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3?§ 


HISTORY 

OP 

THE   OLD    CHERAWS: 

CONTAINING 

AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ABORIGINES  OF  TEE  PEDEE, 

THE   FIKST  WHITE   SETTLEMENTS, 

THEIR   SUBSEQUENT   PROGEESS,   CIVIL    CHANGES,  THE  STRUGGLE    OF   THE 
REVOLUTION,  AND  GROWTH  OP  THE  COUNTRY  AFTERWARD ; 

EXTENDING    FROM    ABOUT    A.D.    1730    TO    1810, 

WITH 

NOTICES    OF    FAMILIES    AND    SKETCHES    OF    INDIVIDUALS. 

BT   THE 

Right  Rev.  ALEXANDER  GREGG,  D.D. 

BISHOP    OF    TUE    P.  E.    OHUROH    IN    TEXAS, 
FOBUBBLT  BECIOB   OF   ST.    DAVID's  CHUBCH,   CHEBAW,   SO.    CA. 

Library,  Univ.  of 

North  Carolina 

NEW   YORK: 

RICHARDSON    AND     COMPANY, 

14,  BOND  STREET. 
1867. 


Entered,  accokding  to  Act  of  Congkess,  in  the 
Year  1867,  by 

RICHARDSON  &  COMPANY, ' 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern 
District  of  New  York. 


TO 


THE    DESCENDANTS    OF    THE    FIRST    SETTLERS    ON    THE    UPPER    PEDEE, 


THE    WHIGS    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAW    DISTRICT    AND    LIBERTT 
PRECINCT, 


WHEREVER    THEY   ARE    TO    BE    FOUND: 


THIS    TRIBUTE    TO    THE    MEMORT    OF    THEIR    FATHERS, 


|s  gespettfullg  §«buat«b 


THE  AUTHOR. 


INTEODUCTION. 


The  Author  was  induced  some  years  since,  at  the  instance  of 
the  "  Cheraw  Lyceum,"  to  investigate  the  history  of  the 
Indian  tribes  formerly  inhabiting  the  valley  of  the  Pedee. 

In  the  course  of  his  researches,  some  very  interesting 
documentary  matter  connected  with  the  first  white  settlers 
of  this  region  was  unexpectedly  discovered,  which  led  to 
renewed  effort  in  that  direction,  and  resulted  in  the  collec- 
tion from  various  sources  of  an  amount  of  matter  far  beyond 
anything  which  the  most  sanguine  hopes  in  the  outset  could 
have  anticipated.  This  was  the  more  gratifying,  inasmuch 
as  in  the  histories  of  the  State  and  the  published  memoirs 
of  some  of  the  distinguished  leaders  of  the  Revolution,  the 
region  of  the  Upper  Pedee,  embraced  within  the  limits  of 
the  Old  Cheraw  District,  had  literally  found  no  place.  It 
was  far  removed  from  Charles-town,  as  well  as  from  the 
main  routes  of  emigration,  travel,  and  the  Indian  trade^  all 
which  tended  to  the  west  and  north-westward,  where  the 
Cherokees  held  sway.  None  of  the  important  battles  of  the 
Revolution  were  fought  in  this  portion  of  Carolina,  though 
it  contributed  largely  to  the  number  of  those  who  took  an 
active  part  in  the  strife.  The  operations  of  Marion  were 
confined  chiefly  to  the  parts  lower  down  on  the  river.  Even 
Judge  James,  who  served  in  early  life  under  that  dis- 
tinguished partizan  leader,  remarks,  in  his  "  Life  of 
Marion  -." — "  As  to    the    Old    Cheraw    District,    where    a 


VI  INTRODUCTION. 

sanguinary  warfare  was  waged  between  the  Whigs  and 
Tories  under  General  Thomas,  their  leader,  nothing  is  known, 
and  it  will,  perhaps,  remain  ever  unrecorded." 

It  may,  therefore,  be  readily  imagined  with  what  delight 
the  materials  of  this  unwritten  history  were  recovered,  how 
the  desire  was  naturally  excited  to  give  it  publicity,  and  the 
pride  justly  felt  by  one  in  the  region  of  his  nativity,  to 
rescue  the  noble  deeds  of  those  who  had  long  since  passed 
away,  from  oblivion. 

After  gathering  the  materials  for  his  narrative  from  every 
accessible  source,  and  carefully  collating  them,  the  Author 
was  called,  in  the  providence  of  God,  to  make  a  permanent 
removal  from  the  State  of  his  birth  and  the  scenes  of  his 
former  labors.  He  has  since  found  time  to  bring  the  work 
to  completion,  esteeming  it  a  tribute  of  affection  due  to  those 
ties  and  associations,  ever  so  dear  to  man,  which  he  has  left 
behind  him. 

Though  in  the  main  a  local  history,  and  for  that  reason 
chiefly  interesting  to  those  who  by  nativity  or  descent  are 
more  immediately  connected  with  this  portion  of  Carolina, 
there  is  yet  of  necessity  a  close  and  continuous  connexion 
throughout  with  the  history  of  the  State  at  large — a  history 
which,  except  by  the  aid  of  such  detailed  accounts  of  par- 
ticular localities,  can  never  be  fully  written.  Much,  there- 
fore, of  general  interest  will  be  found  in  the  following  pages, 
more  especially  in  the  period  which  immediately  preceded 
the  Revolution,  and  during  the  progress  of  that  eventful 
conflict.  To  the  Whigs  of  the  Old  Cheraws,  though  with 
very  few  exceptions  hitherto  unknown  to  fame,  must  a  con- 
spicuous place  be  assigned,  for  the  part  they  took  in  pre- 
paring the.  way  for  that  early  struggle  for  independence,  and 
in  its  prosecution  afterwards. 

If  omissions  appear  in  the  account  of  families  which  came 
at  an  early  period  to  the  Pedee,  and  are  known  to  have  taken 


INTRODUCTION.  Vll 

an  active  and  influential  part  in  its  subsequent  history,  it 
is  to  be  attributed  to  tlie  fact,  which  none  can  regret  more 
than  the  Aiithor,  that  after  diligent  and  unremitting  effort, 
information  was  either  not  to  be  obtained,  or  failed,  after 
repeated  application,  to  be  procured  from  their  descendants. 
It  is  a  melancholy  fact,  indeed,  as  has  been  painfully  experi- 
enced here  in  not  a  few  instances,  how  little  is  known  by 
their  posterity  of  the  third  and  fourth  generations,  of  ances- 
tors who  are  worthy  of  being  held  in  honored  remembrance. 
In  this  connexion  facts  could  be  given  which  .would  scarcely 
be  credited.  Too  little  attention  has  been  generally  paid  to 
the  preservation  of  such  ancestral  accounts,  and  of  documen- 
tary matter,  invaluable  in  connexion  with  the  history  of 
communities  and  public  events  of  importance.  To  a  few 
such  collections  which  happily  escaped  the  ravages  of  time, 
the  Author  has  been  largely  indebted  in  filling  up  some  of  the 
links  of  his  narrative.  He  is  under  weighty  obligations  to 
those  who  kindly  furnished  information  and  materials  within 
their  reach ;  also  to  others  who  gave  him  access  to  public 
libraries  and  the  archives  of  the  State,  and  desires  in  this 
lasting  form  to  give  expression  to  his  acknowledgments. 

In  a  local  history  Hke  the  following,  much  of  minute 
detail  as  to  persons  and  places  is  to  be  expected,  constituting, 
as  it  does,  one  of  the  chief  attractions  of  such  a  narrative. 
Where  printed  or  documentary  matter  of  permanent  interest 
and  value  could  be  given  in  full  as  recorded,  the  object  has 
been  to  present  it  literally  in  its  original  form,  rather  than 
in  the  language  of  the  Author.  In  this  way  only  can  the 
materials  necessary  for  general  use  in  the  future  be  preserved, 
and  the  labor  of  those  to  come  in  more  important  paths  of 
historical  inquiry  be  lightened.  The  hope  is .  therefore 
cherished  that  the  intrinsic  value  of  the  matter  collected,  not 
the  style  of  its  narration,  may  interest  the  reader.  And  if 
a  work,  begun  and  prosecuted  under  the  constant  pressure  of 


VUl  INTRODUCTION. 

other  pursuits  and  labors,  shall  serve  to  make  those  for  whom 
he  has  chiefly  written,  better  acquainted  with  the  history  of 
their  fathers,  and  do  justice,  though  at  so  late  a  period,  to 
the  memory  of  the  noble  men  who  have  gone  before,  the 
Author  will  feel  that  his  effort  is  abundantly  rewarded. 


San  Antonio,  Texas, 
April,  1867. 


I 


HISTORY 


THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

Indian  tribes  in  Carolina — Extent  of  tlieir  territory — Other  tribes — Pedees — 
Kadapaws — Localities  of  each — Their  origin — Advent  of  the  Catawbas — 
Their  tradition — Subsequent  relation  to  tribes  on  the  Pedee — Lederer's 
narrative — Localities  identified — Sara,  where — First  mention  in  public  records 
of  tribes  on  the  Pedee — Visit  of  the  Cheraws  to  Charlestown — Governor's 
visit  to  the  Congerees — Interview  with  Pedees — Governor  Glenn  writes  to 
Governor  Clinton — Evans's  Journal — Cheraws  visit  Charlestown — Small- 
pox prevails — Removal  of  Cheraws  and  union  with  Catawbas — Catawba 
History — Languages  of  tribes  on  the  Pedee — Meaning  of  "  Cheraw" — 
"  Pedee" — Indian  remains  on  the  Pedee — Indian  habits  and  customs — 
Lawsou's  narrative — Last  of  Cheraws  and  Catawbas. 

There  is  a  sad  chapter  in  the  history  of  the  New  World  : 
it  is  that  relating  to  the  Aborigines  of  America — a  people, 
as  all  accounts  agree,  distinguished  for  many  noble  traits, 
but  invariably  degenerating  in  character  and  habit  as  they 
have  come  in  contact  with  the  "  pale-faces,^^  and  taken 
up  their  mournful  line  of  march  towards  the  setting  sun. 

When  first  known  to  the  colonists,  South  Carolina  is  said 
to  have  contained  not  less  than  twenty-eight  tribes  of 
Indians,  with  settlements  extending  from  the  ocean  to  the 
mountains.  Of  these  tribes  but  a  few  names  survive  to 
mark  the  localities  they  once  inhabited;  and  these,  with 
such  scattered  remains  as  the  waste  of  time  and  the  level- 
ling work  of  the  white  man  have  spared,  are  the  only  memo- 
rials left  to  tell  of  their  early  occupancy  of  the  soil.  Of  the 
tribes  which  dwelt  upon  the  Pedee  and  its  tributaries,  the 
Saras,  or  Saraws,  as  they  were  first  called — afterwards 
Charrows,  Charraws,  and  Cheraws — occupied  the  region  still 

B 


2  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

identified  by  the  name  :  their  territory  extending  thence  to 
the  coast,  and  along  the  coast  from  the  Cape  Fear  to  the 
Pedee.  This  extensive  region  has  been  assigned  to  the 
Cheraws  by  one  of  the  most  eminent  ethnologists  of  America, 
as  among  the  sites  of  the  Indian  tribes  when  first  known  to 
the  Europeans,  about  the  year  1600,  along  the  coast  of 
the  Atlantic."^ 

If  such  was  the  extent  of  their  territory  at  that  early 
period,  it  would  indicate  a  population  which  must  have 
been  greatly  diminished,  when,  upon  the  approach  of  the 
Catawbas,  a  half  century  later,  the  supremacy  of  the  Che- 
raws over  the  smaller  tribes  around  them,  and  even  over 
their  own  distinct  nationality,  would  seem  to  have  been  lost, 
or  at  least  unacknowledged.  Within  these  early  territorial 
limits  of  the  Cheraws,  and  along  the  middle  and  lower 
parts  of  the  valley  of  the  river,  must  be  assigned  the  Pedees  ; 
and  about  the  mouth  of  the  river,  the  Winyaws.  The 
Kadapaws  were  found  on  Lynchers  Creek,  after  the  name  of 
which  tribe  that  stream  was  called  in  the  Indian  tongue. 
Of  these,  the  Cheraws — however  they  may  have  been  dimi- 
nished in  number  by  disease  and  war,  or  perchance  by  some 
dismemberment  of  their  nation,  and  the  removal  of  many, 
of  which  no  record  or  tradition  remains — continued  to  be 
the  dominant  race  on  the  Pedee  ;  the  others  having  ever 
been  reckoned  among  the  smaller  and  inferior  tribes.  Of 
their  origin  nothing  is  known  beyond  the  conjectures  of 
ethnologists.  They  have  been  assigned,  but  upon  what 
grounds  does  not  appear,  to  the  extensive  family  of  Algon- 
kins.  These  occupied  that  portion  of  North  America  on 
the  east  extending  from  35°  to  60°  N.  latitude,  and  reaching 
along  the  northern  line  of  extension  almost  to  the  Pacific 
on  the  west.  Beyond  this,  as  the  track  of  aboriginal  descent 
and  migration  begins  to  be  traced  back,  even  conjecture  is 
lost  in  a  sea  of  uncertainty. 

The  tribes  on  the  Pedee  continued  in  their  feeble  and 
disconnected  state  (the  Cheraws  maintaining  the  supremacy) 
until  the  arrival  of  the  Catawbas   from  the  north,  with  the 


*  See  map  annexed,  by  the  late  Albert  Gallatin,  vol.  i.  of  "  Transactions  of 
American  Ethnological  Society." 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CliERAWS.  6 

liistory  of  whom  tlieir  owu  was  ever  after  to  be  inseparably 
blended. 

According  to  tlieir  tradition,^  as  it  has  been  handed 
down  to  very  receut  times,  the  Catawbas,  at  a  period  prior 
or  not  long  subsequent  to  the  discovery  and  settlement  of 
North  America  by  the  whites,  occupied  a  region  far  to  the 
northward,  from  whence,  in  course  of  time,  they  removed 
to  the  south.  Being  a  numerous  and  warlike  race,  they 
vanquished  the  tribes  with  whom  they  came  successively  in 
conflict  on  the  way,  until  they  met  the  Cherokees  on  the 
banks  of  the  river,  afterwards  called  by  their  own  name, 
Catawba. 

Here,  as  the  tradition  relates,  a  sanguinary  battle  ensued 
between  them,  which  lasted  from  morning  until  night, 
darkness  alone  serving  to  put  an  end  to  the  conflict.  The 
loss  on  both  sides  was  heavy,  though  neither  party  gained 
the  victory.  They  slept  on  the  field  of  blood  among  their 
dead  and  wounded.  With  the  approach  of  morning,  pro- 
positions of  peace  were  made  by  the  Catawbas,  and  accepted 
by  tlie  Cherokees.  According  to  the  terms  of  the  agree- 
ment, the  former  were  to  occupy  the  country  east  of  the 
river,  and  the  latter  the  territory  on  the  w  est.  Here  they 
solemnly  agreed  to  live  together  as  brothers;  and,  after 
burying  their  dead,  and  erecting  piles  of  stones  as  monu- 
ments alike  of  their  common  loss,  and  of  the  peace  and 
friendship  established  between  them,  returned  to  their  en- 
campments, ever  afterwards  sacredly  observing  the  terms  of 
the  compact.  This  tradition  of  the  Catawbas  is  confirmed 
throughout  by  the  fuller  details  which  ethnological  research 
has  added  to  their  history.  They  appear  to  have  been  a 
Canadian  tribe,  and  to  have  left  their  ancient  home  about 
the  year  1650,  pursued  by  the  Connewangas,  a  superior  and 
more  Avarlike  tribe,  with  whom  they  had  come  in  conflict. 
Forced  thus  to  remove,  they  turned  their  faces  to  the  south- 
ward, and  fought  their  way,  when  necessary  to  do  so,  until 
they  approached  the  head   waters  of  the    Kentucky   River. 


*  For  this  interesting  traditional  account,  as  given  by  the  Catawbas,  the 
author  is  indebted  to  W.  H.  Thomas,  Esq.,  of  Qu  ilia  Town,  No.  Ca.,  who  has 
been  intimately  connected  with  them,  as  their  head  man,  or  chief,  since  their 
removal  to  the  western  part  of  that  State. 

B    2 


4  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Here  a  separation  took  place,  the  larger  number  becoming 
absorbed  in  the  great  families  of  the  Chickasaws  and  Choc- 
taws. 

The  remainder  of  the  tribe  stopped  in  what  was  after- 
wards known  as  Bottetourt  County,  Virginia,  but  without 
making  any  permanent  settlement. 

They  removed  thence  in  the  year  1660,  continuing  their 
journey  to  the  south,  and,  as  Adair  wrote,  "  settled  on  the 
east  side  of  a  broad,  purling  river,  that  heads  in  the  great 
blue  ridge  of  mountains,  and  empties  itself  into  Santee 
River,  in  Amelia  township,  then  running  eastward  of  Charles- 
town,  disgorges  itself  into  the  Atlantic." 

On  the  banks  of  this  river,  the  Eswa  Tavora  (as  it  was 
called  in  the  Indian  tongue),  they  met  the  Cherokees, 
whose  extensive  territory  ran  thence  to  the  westward,  and 
there  followed  the  sanguinary  conflict,  of  which  some  ac- 
count has  been  given. 

In  this  battle  1000  of  the  bravest  warriors  were  lost 
on  each  side,  gi'catly  reducing  the  force  of  the  Catawbas, 
and  doubtless  making  a  permanent  impression  on  their  spirit 
as  a  warlike  race,  for  which  they  had  been  so  celebrated  in 
the  earlier  periods  of  their  history. 

How  the  approach  of  the  Catawbas  was  regarded  by  the 
Cheraws,  and  whether  any  conflict  ensued  between  them, 
tradition  does  not  inform  us.  The  approach  of  a  strong 
and  formidable  tribe  was  generally  regarded  by  the  Indians 
as  a  hostile  demonstration  and  claim  to  dominion.  Already, 
doubtless,  the  decline  of  the  Cheraws  had  commenced  and 
made  such  progress  as  to  unfit  them  for  contesting  the 
claim  to  supremacy.  It  was  to  be  the  story  of  a  continuous 
decline,  and  of  a  race  scattered  or  absorbed  into  another 
superior  to  themselves,  the  beginning  of  the  last  and  most 
mournful  chapter  in  their  history.  A  portion  of  the 
Cheraws,  however,  must  have  remained  distinct  and  inde- 
pendent for  more  than  a  century  later,  as  will  be  found  in 
tracing  their  subsequent  course.  They  were  henceforth  to 
be  wanderer?,  the  remains  of  their  once  exteusiA'e  dominion, 
with  those  of  the  smaller  tribes  around  them,  having  passed 
away  to  the  Catawbas.  The  territory  of  the  latter  was 
placed  in  31.''  north  latitude,  being    bounded   on    the  north 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHE  RAWS.  5 

and  north-cast  by  North  Carolina ;  on  the  cast  and  soutli 
by  South  Carolina ;  and  about  west  and  south-west  by  the 
Cherokee  nation."*^ 

The  smaller  tribes  on  the  waters  of  the  Pedee,  appear 
after  this  period  to  have  had  but  a  nominal  existence. 
They  had  doubtless  degenerated  through  the  operation  of 
those  wasting  and  destructive  agencies  at  work  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  aboriginal  races  ;  and,  in  addition,  had  under- 
gone the  process,  common  among  the  Indians,  of  becoming 
absorbed  in  their  conquerors  or  in  the  larger  tribes  around 
them. 

In  this  instance  they  were  merged  chiefly  in  the  Cataw- 
bas.  About  the  year  1743,  the  language  of  the  Catawbas 
is  said  to  have  consisted  of  twenty  different  dialects,  of 
which  the  "  Katahba"  was  the  standard,  or  court  dialect, 
the  "  Cherah"  being  another.  Scarcely  anything  beyond  a 
bare  allusion  to  them  by  name  is  found  relating  to  the 
tribes  on  the  Pedee  in  the  earliest  accounts  of  the  Indians 
of  Carolina.  AVith  the  exception  of  the  Cheraws,  they  were 
reckoned  among  the  smaller  and  inferior  tribes,  most  of 
whom  had  then  greatly  degenerated  and  were  rapidly  ap- 
proaching extinction.  Brief  allusions  are  found  at  an  early 
period  to  the  several  tribes  in  the  Acts  of  the  Assembly, 
passed  for  the  regulation  and  support  of  the  Indian  trade. 
The  larger  tribes  on  the  northern  and  western  boundaries 
of  the  Province  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Government 
almost  exclusively.  The  Catawbas  formed  a  sort  of  barrier 
against  their  incursions,  and  of  them  there  is  frequent 
mention. 

Of  the  Cheraws  the  first  distinct  relation  in  any  contem- 
poraneous record,  is  found  in  the  explorations  of  John 
Lederer,  "  in  three  several  marches  from  Virginia  to  the 
west  of  Carolina  and  other  parts  of  the  Continent ;  begun 
in  March,  1669,  and  ended  in  September,  1670.^^t 

Such  at  least  is  the  case,  if  we  are  to  understand  by 
"  Sara,"'  as  he  writes  it,  the  locality  of  the  "  Saraws,"  as 
they  were  sometimes  called,  or  Cheraw  Indians.       Thus,  in 


*  Adair,  p.  224. 
t  For  a  full  account  of  this  early  American  traveller,  the  reader  is  referred 
to  Dr.  Hawks'  "  History  of  No.  Ca.,"  vol.  ii.  pp.  43-<-63,  with  maps  annexed. 


b  HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

one  of  his  journeys^  Leclerer  says,  "  I  departed  from  Watery 
the  one-and-twentieth  of  Jime,  and  keeping  a  west  course 
for  near  thirty  miles,  I  came  to  Sara.  Here  I  found  the 
ways  more  level  and  easy.  I  did  likewise,  to  my  no  small 
admiration,  find  hard  cakes  of  white  salt  among  them  ;  but 
whether  they  were  made  of  sea-water  or  taken  out  of  salt- 
pits  T  know  not,  hut  am  apt  to  believe  the  latter,  because 
the  sea  is  so  remote  from  them.  From  Sara  I  kept  a  south- 
west course  until  the  five-and-twentieth  of  June,  and  then  I 
reached  Wisacky.  This  three  days'  march  was  more  trouble- 
some to  me  than  all  my  travels  besides,  for  the  direct  way 
which  I  took  from  Sara  to  Wisacky  is  over  a  continued 
marsh  overgrown  with  weeds,  from  whose  roots  spring 
knotty  stumps,  as  hard  and  sharp  as  flint. 

"  I  was  forced  to  lead  my  horse  most  part  of  the  way,  and 
wonder  that  he  was  not  either  j)luDged  in  the  bogs  or  lamed 
by  those  rugged  knots.  This  nation  is  subject  to  a  neighbor 
king  residing  upon  the  bank  of  a  great  lake  called  Ushery, 
environed  of  all  sides  with  mountains  and  Wisacky  marsh.''"^ 

There  is  great  difficulty  throughout  Lederer's  narrative, 
as  Dr.  Hawks  more  than  once  remarks,  in  determining  the 
routes  by  which  he  passed  and  the  localities  described.  If 
by  "  Watery,"  the  Wateree  of  the  present  day  is  to  be  un- 
derstood, he  could  not  by  going  west  thirty  miles  to 
"  Wisacky,"  and  thence  three  days"  march  by  a  south-west 
course  to  "  Ushery,"  have  reached  the  Santee ;  for  by 
"  Ushery"  the  Santee  was  meant,  if  the  authority  quoted  by 
Dr.  Hawks  is  correct :  Col.  Byrd,  he  adds,  says  that  the 
Indians  living  on  the  Santee  River  were  called  "  Usheries." 
If,  on  the  other  hand,  amid  the  confusion  of  names  which 
could  not  have  been  very  well  defined  at  that  early  period, 
we  may  understand  by  "  Watery"  the  Pedee  of  the  present 
day,  a  journey  of  thirty  miles  to  the  west  would  have 
brought  Lederer  to  Lynchers  Creek,  the  "  Wisacky,"  and 
three  days'  march  from  thence  south-westwardly  along  the 
swamp  of  Wateree,  would  have  enabled  him  to  reach  the 
Santee,  environed  by  the  "  High  Hills"  which  have  since 
become    so  famous,  called   by  this  early  explorer,  "  Moun- 


Hawks'  "  History  of  N.  C,"  vol.  ii.  p.  49. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  7 

tains/'  and  witli  au  almost  impenetrable  swamp  of  vast  ex- 
tent^ to  which  his  descriptiou  of  a  "  marsh  ovcrgroAvn  with 
reeds/'  would  very  well  answer. 

In  support  of  this  view^  we  find  in  Oldmixon's  "  History 
of  Carolina/'  published  in  1708,  reason  for  supposing  that 
the  Pedce  was  then  called  by  that  name  (Watery).  De- 
scribing the  six  counties  into  which  Carolina,  North  and 
South,  was  then  divided,  he  begins  with  Albemarle,  on  the 
borders  of  Virginia.  Then  follows  an  account  of  Clarendon 
County,  in  which,  he  says,  "^  is  the  famous  promontory,  called 
also  Cape  Fear,  at  the  mouth  of  Clarendon  River,  called 
also  Cape  Fear  River.  The  next  river  is  named  Waterey 
River,  or  Winyan,  about  twenty-five  leagues  distant  from 
Ashley  River  :  it  is  capable  of  receiving  large  ships,  but  in- 
ferior to  Port  Royal,  nor  is  yet  inhabited.  There  is  another 
small  river  called  Wingon  River,  and  a  little  settlement 
honoured  with  the  name  of  Charles-town,  but  so  thinly 
inhabited  that  'tis  not  worth  taking  notice  of.  We  come  now 
to  South  Carolina,  which  is  parted  from  North  by  Zantee 
River.      The  adjacent  county  is  called  Craven  County.""^ 

It  is  evident  that  the  "Waterey"  here  spoken  of,  was 
the  Waccamaw,  or  the  lower  Pedee,  and  not  the  Wateree 
of  the  present  day. 

The  Pedee  being  a  much  longer  stream  than  the  Wacca- 
maw, it  is  not  impossible  that  though  the  latter  was  known 
by  the  name  of  Waterey,  or  Winy  an  near  its  mouth,  the 
former  being  supposed  to  form  its  extension  higher  up,  was 
also  in  like  manner  designated.  Dr.  Hawks  remarks, 
"  Watery,  Sara,  Wisacky,  and  Ushery,  would  all  appear  to 
have  been  in  South  Carolina,  the  last  directly  west  of 
Charles-town.  If  he  made  his  journey  then,  entering  the 
State  somewhere  in  Robeson  County,  he  must  have  crossed 
in  a  south-western  line,  and  passing  through  Robeson 
County  into  South  Carolina,  must  have  traversed  that  State 
also  in  its  entire  width.  The  time  occupied  would  not  have 
been  sufficient  for  it.  Lederer's  Itinerary  presents  difficul- 
ties which  we  confess  we  cannot  satisfactorily  solve."t 


Oldmixon's  "  History,"  in  Carroll's  Collections,  vol.  ii.  p.  446. 
-j-  Hawks'  "  History  of  N.  C,"  vol.  ii.  p.  52. 


8  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

If,  as  is  here  conjectured,  Lederer  passed  througli  Robeson 
County  into  South  Carolina,  the  supposition  we  have  made 
will  appear  the  more  probable.  And  it  brings  to  light  the 
fact  never  before  suggested  or  imagined,  perhaps,  that  the 
Pedee,  in  the  earlier  days  of  aboriginal  history,  was  known 
as  ''  Sara/^  If  it  was  so,  the  time  and  reason  of  the  change 
to  Pedee  can  be  left  to  conjecture  only. 

It  might  have  taken  place  after  the  advent  of  the 
Catawbas,  and  been  brought  about  by  them  in  order  that 
such  a  standing  memorial  of  the  "  Sara"  dominion  might 
be  for  ever  obliterated  ;  or,  what  is  yet  more  probable,  the 
"  Sara"  territory,  once  embracing  the  region  higher  up,  but 
afterwards  confined  to  the  coast,  the  Pedees,  if  succeeding 
to  it,  would  naturally  have  called  the  river  after  their  own 
name. 

The  earliest  mention  in  the  provincial  records  of  any  of 
the  tribes  inhabiting  the  Valley  of  the  Pedee,  is  found  in 
the  proceedings  of  the  Council  or  Upper  House  of  Assembly, 
December  15th,  1732.^  It  is  in  these  words : — "  Mr. 
Sanders  and  Mr.  Waties  came  from  the  Lower  House  with 
the  following  message.  We  herewith  send  your  Excellency 
a  letter  of  great  moment  to  this  Government,  relating  to 
the  murder  of  a  Pedee  Indian,  by  one  Kemp.  We  desire 
your  Excellency  to  take  the  proper  measures  to  prevent  the 
ill  consequences  of  it,  by  causing  the  offender  to  be  appre- 
hended and  brought  to  justice,  or  otherwise  as  your 
Excellency  shall  see  fit." 

Upon  reading  the  message  from  the  Lower  House  of 
Assembly,  and  likewise  the  letter  therein  mentioned,  com- 
plaining that  one  Kemp,  or  Camp,  an  overseer  at  Black 
River,  or  Georgetown,  has  barbarously  murdered  one  of 
the  Peedee  Indians, 

"  Ordered, — That  James  Neale,  Esq.,  Provost  Marshal, 
do  immediately  attach  the  said  Kemp,  or  Camj),  and  bring 
him  before  his  Excellency,  the  Governor,  in  Charlestown, 
to  be  dealt  with  according  to  law,  and  that  all  Constables 
and  other  officers  and  subjects  of  his  Majesty  be  aiding  and 


Council  Journal,"  No.  5,  p.  258,  Secretary  States  Office,  Columbia. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS.  V 

assisting  to  the  said  Provost  Marshal  iu  the  cxccutiou  of 
this  orclcr/^ 

This  proceeding  of  the  House  was  based  upon  the 
following  facts : — "  Appeared  before  this  Boards  Thomas 
Burton  and  Wm.  Kemp^  and  upon  the  affidavit  of  Thomas 
Burton,  and  the  information  of  Wm.  Kemp  concerning  tlie 
fact  of  an  Indian  fellow  being  killed,  name  Corn-White 
Johnny,  his  Excellency  issued  the  following  order.  On 
the  17th  January,  1733,  in  Council,  upon  hearing  this  day 
the  information  of  William  Kemp,  relating  to  the  death  of 
Corn-White  Johnny,  and  the  affidavit  of  Thomas  Burton, 
it  is  ordered  that  King  Harry,  Captain  Billy,  George  and 
Dancing  Johnny,  and  some  of  the  relations  of  the  deceased, 
be  and  appear  before  me,  the  second  AVeduesday  in  February 
next  ensuing,  to  give  an  account  of  what  they  know  of  the 
death  of  the  said  Indian,  and  that  Wm.  Kemp  do  attend 
at  the  same  time  ;  likewise  that  Mr.  John  Thompson,  jun., 
is  desired  to  acquaint  the  said  Indians  of  this  order.^^ 
This  record  is  of  interest  now  as  evincing  the  jealous  care 
exercised  by  the  Provincial  Government  for  the  protection 
of  those  scattered  and  defenceless  remnants  of  the  Indian 
tribes  whose  domain  was  fast  passing  away  from  them,  and 
who  continued  faithful  to  the  whites  to  the  close  of  their 
history. 

Of  the  result  of  the  proceedings  referred  to  no  further 
account  appears. 

We  have  next  a  brief,  but  interesting  notice*  of  a  visit 
made  to  Charles-town  by  a  few  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
Cheraw  and  Catawbas  in  July  1739  : — "  On  Saturday 
last,"  said  the  Gazette  of  that  day,  '^  arrived  in  this  town 
eleven  of  the  chief  men  among  the  Catawbas  and  Cheraw 
Indians,  w^ho  came  to  pay  a  visit  to  his  Honour,  the  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor, and  inform  him  that  some  time  since  a 
party  of  their  people  went  out  to  war,  and  not  meeting 
with   their    enemies,    had    cut    off  a   white   family   on   the 


*  South  Carolina  Gazette,  June  30 — July  7tli,  1739.  For  access  to  this 
invaluable  historical  collection — a  complete  file  of  the  old  Gazettes,  commencing 
about  1730 — the  author  is  indebted  to  the  courtesy  of  A.  H.  Mazyck,  Esq.,  of 
the  Charleston  Library.  Only  a  few  of  the  earlier  numbers  of  the  Gazette  are 
missing.     At  a  later  period  a  small  portion  was  burned. 


10  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

borders  of  Virginia ;  that  upon  complaint  made  to  them  of 
the  said  barbarous  murder,  they  examined  into  the  facts, 
and  had  put  five  of  the  ringleaders  to  death ;  and  that  they 
were  determined  to  prosecute  in  the  same  rigorous  manner 
any  of  their  people  who  for  the  future  should  be  found 
guilty  of  the  like  cruel  practices.  They  met  with  a  kind 
reception  from  his  Honour  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  and 
having  received  the  usual  presents  from  the  country,  they 
set  out  this  day  on  their  return  home,  well  pleased  and 
content/^ 

The  signal  punishment  visited  by  these  tribes  upon  the 
murderers  of  the  whites,  indicated  their  fidelity  to  the 
Provincial  Government,  which  continued  to  be  as  true  as  it 
was  lasting. 

Of  the  Pedees  mention  is  made  a  few  years  later.  "  In 
Council,  March  2nd,  1743,  his  Excellency,  the  Governor, 
signed  the  following  order  to  Mr.  Commissary  Dart,  viz., 
to  provide  for  the  Pedee  Indians  now  in  town,  the  follow- 
ing particulars,  viz.  : — 

"  Presents. — To  the  three  head  men,  each  of  them,  a  gun 
and  knife ;  to  the  others,  each  of  them,  a  knife.  For  the 
three  women,  each  of  them,  a  looking-glass,  twenty  bullets, 
half  a  pound  vermillion  to  be  divided  among  them. 

"  Also,  an  order  on  Col.  Brewton,  for  ten  pounds  of  gun- 
powder for  use  of  said  Indians.''^^  The  Pedees  are  men- 
tioned again,  with  the  Catawbas,  in  the  following  year.  "  In 
Council,  25  th  July,  1744,  the  Governor  admitted  four 
Pedee  Indians  to  an  interview  in  the  Council  Chamber, 
who  informed  his  Excellency  that  seven  Catawbas  had  been 
barbarously  murdered  by  the  Notchee  Indians,  who  live 
among  them,  which  horrible  deed  having  been  confirmed  by 
Mr.  Matthew  Beard,  who  lives  at  Goose  Creek,  who  had 
certain  intelligence  of  the  same,  saying,  that  the  said  Ca- 
tawbas being  drunk  near  Fuller  Cowpen,  near  the  four  holes, 
seven  of  them,  while  asleep,  were  murdered  by  the  Notchees  ; 
which  afiair  being  taken  into  consideration,  his  Excellency, 
by  the  advice  of  his  Majesty's  Council,  ordered  the  follow- 
ing letter  to  be  despatched  away,  relating  to  that  subject : — 

*  "  Council  Journal,"  No.  11,  p.  133. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  11 

«  So,  Ca.,  July  2S,  17-14. 
"  Sir, — I  have  received  information  of  an  unlucky  accident 
which  happened  about  a  week  ago^  at  or  near  the  store  be- 
longing to  the  late  INIajor  Fuller,  somewhere  about  the  Four 
Holes,  where  some  Notchee  Indians  have  fallen  upon  and 
killed  five  or  six  of  the  Catawbas,  being  instigated  thereto 
by  a  person  who  keeps  that  store.  The  Catawbas,  as  I 
understand,  have  already  set  out  to  take  their  revenge, 
which  has  obliged  the  Notchees  and  Pedees  to  come  further 
down  among  the  settlements  for  shelter.  I  must  therefore 
desire  the  favor  of  you  to  interpose  in  this  matter,  and  to 
prevent,  as  far  as  you  are  able,  any  bloodshed,  till  this 
matter  is  fully  enquired  into.  Then  the  guilty  may  be 
punished,  and  if  you  find  it  necessary,  to  interpose  with  the 
Militia  in  your  parts  to  keep  the  peace.  This  I  write  at 
the  desire  of  his  JNIajesty^s  Council.  I  hear  they  are  at 
Mr.  Beard's  Plantation,  in  the  neighbourhood. 

I  SLva,  with  truths  yours, 

"To  Hon.  Wm.  Middletou,  Esq."  "  JaMES   GlEN.^ 

About  two  years  after  this,  the  Governor,  as  was  usual 
when  any  difficulty  occurred  with  the  Indians,  or  to  pre- 
serve their  friendship  and  maintain  a  due  influence  over 
them,  made  a  visit  into  the  interior,  at  a  certain  place  on 
the  Congarees,  appointed  by  him  for  an  interview  with  the 
Catawbas,  of  which  the  following  account  was  preserved. f 
"  The  Governor  arrived  at  Congarees  27  April,  140  miles 
distance  hence,  where,  on  the  bank  of  the  Santee,  the  king 
and  a  few  of  the  head  men  met  him.  Yenabe  Yalangway, 
the  King — the  old  leader.  Captain  Taylor,  Naf  kebee,  and  some 
others  awaited  on  his  Excellency.  The  next  day  the  Go- 
vernor addressed  them.  A  place  being  erected  for  the 
Governor  to  sit  under,  and  the  Union  Flag  hoisted,  our 
men  were  drawn  out  in  two  lines,  through  which  the  Indians 
marched,  when  they  were  received  with  drums  beating  and 
colours  flying,  and  saluted  with  some  small  pieces  of  cannon : 
after  they  had  all  taken  the  Governor  by  the  hand,  and  the 
King  with  some    of  his  head-men,  had  placed   himself  near 


Council  Journal,"  No.  11,  pp.  413,  414. 
f  Gazette,  June  2,  1746. 


12  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

his  Excellency,  a  person  was  sworn  truly  to  interpret  all 
that  should  pass  betwixt  the  Governor  and  the  Indians  ; 
and  then  his  Excellency  addressed  them  in  words,  the  pur- 
port of  which  was  to  dissuade  them  from  agreeing  to  a 
proposition  which  had  been  made  to  them  by  some  of  the 
other  Indian  Nations  to  join  in  a  French  war  against 
the  people  of  Carolina.  After  which,  presents  were  dis- 
tributed, consisting  chiefly  of  powder,  guns,  pistols,  paint, 
&c.  The  Governor  had  that  morning  received  an  express 
from  Mr.  Brown  (who  trades  amongst  the  Catawbas)  acquaint- 
ing him  that  some  of  the  Pedees  and  Cheraws  (two  small 
tribes  who  have  long  been  incorporated  wdth  the  Catawbas), 
intended  to  leave  them,  which  might  prove  of  dangerous 
consequence  at  a  time  Avhen  they  were  so  closely  attacked 
by  their  enemies,  the  Northern  Indians.  Mr.  Brown  there- 
fore entreated  that,  if  possible,  such  a  separation  might  be 
prevented. 

The  Governor  ordered  the  rammers  of  all  the  pistols 
which  he  had  delivered  to  the  Indians  to  be  laid  upon  the 
table,  desiring  that  such  as  were  Pedees  and  Charraws  might 
advance,  and  they,  being  in  a  body  near  him,  he  spoke  to 
them  in  these  words : — "  It  gives  me  great  concern,  my 
friends,  to  hear  that  you  entertain  the  least  thought  of 
leaving  the  Catawbas,  with  whom  you  have  been  so  long 
and  so  closely  united.  This  union  makes  you  strong,  and 
enables  you  to  defend  yourselves  and  annoy  your  enemies ; 
but  should  you  ever  separate,  you  would  thereby  weaken 
yourselves,  and  be  exposed  to  every  danger.  Consider  that 
if  you  were  single  and  divided,  you  may  be  broke  as  easily 
as  I  break  this  stick"  (at  the  same  time  breaking  one  of 
the  rammers)  ;  "  but  if  you  continue  united  together,  and 
stand  by  one  another,  it  will  be  as  impossible  to  hurt  or  break 
you,  as  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  break  these,"  (his  Excel- 
lency then  taking  up  a  handful  of  rammers). 

After  this,  they  aU  promised  to  continue  together  in  their 
camp.  The  Governor  then  directed  himself  to  the  King  of 
the  Catawbas,  telling  him  that  he  would  expect  his  answer. 
To  which  the  King  replied  at  some  length,  assuring  the 
Governor  of  their  continued  friendship  and  fidelity. 

The    pledge   of   fidelity  renewed  on    this    occasion    was 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  lo 

faithfully  observed  by  these  Indians  thronghout  all  their 
subsequent  history.  Though  often  tempted  by  artful  repre- 
sentations and  large  promises  to  take  up  arms  against  the 
people  of  Carolina,  they  could  never  be  persuaded  to  do  so. 
Throughout  the  Indian  wars,  and  the  eontest  with  the 
mother  countr}',  they  continued  steadfast  in  their  devotion 
to  their  early  friends  and  allies,  Avell  meriting  the  aid  and 
protection  extended  to  them  by  the  State  in  the  latter  stages 
of  their  decline  and  weakness. 

That  the  Pedees  owned  slaves,  will  appear  from  the  follow- 
ing notice,  published  in  the  Gazette  of  the  day,  Augiist  30 — 
September  6,  1748  :— 

"  Taken  up  by  IMichael  Welch,  overseer  to  the  Subscriber, 
on  an  Island  called  Uchee  Island,  a  Negro  Fellow,  who 
gives  the  following  account  of  himself,  viz.,  that  he  belonged 
formerly  to  INIr.  Fullei',  and  was  by  him  sold  to  Billy,  King 
of  the  Pedee  Indians ;  that  the  Catawba  Indians  took  him 
from  King  Billy,  and  carried  him  to  their  nation  ;  and  that 
in  endeavouring  to  make  his  escape  from  the  Catawbas,  he 
was  lost  in  the  woods,  and  had  been  so  a  considerable  time 
before  he  was  taken.  He  is  a  middle-sized  Fellow,  and  a 
little  pot-bellied ;  says  his  name  is  Fortune,  but  is  suspected 
to  have  another  name  which  he  does  not  care  to  own.  Any 
person  having  any  right  or  property  in  the  said  Fellow,  may 
apply  to  the  Subscriber,  now  in  Charlestown. 

"  Isaac  Marksdale." 

The  Pedees  and  other  smaller  tribes,  who  now  led  a 
wandering  life,  were  in  constant  danger  of  being  enticed  off 
by  the  more  powerful  and  hostile  nations  of  Indians,  to  join 
them  in  their  predatory  excursions. 

The  following  letters  indicate  the  anxiety  felt  on  the 
subject  by  the  Catawl)as,  as  well  as  by  the  Provincial  Govern- 
ment at  this  period.  The  first^was  addressed  by  the  King 
of  the  Catawbas  to  his  Excellency,  James  Glen,  Esq.  : — 

"  There  are  a  great  many  Pedee  Indians  living  in  the 
settlements  that  we  want  to  come  and  settle  amongst  us. 
We  desire  for   you   to  send    for   them,  and   advise  them  to 


*  "  Indian    Book,"   vol.   iii.    pp.  163,   IG^,  in  Secretary  of  State's  Office, 
Columbia,  S.  C. 


14  HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

this,  and  give  them  this  string  of  wampum  in  token  that 
we  want  them  to  settle  here,  and  will  always  live  like 
brothers  with  them.  The  Northern  Indians  want  them  all 
to  settle  with  us  ;  for,  as  they  are  now  at  peace,  they  may 
be  hunting  in  the  woods  or  straggling  about,  killed  by  some 
of  them,  except  they  join  us,  and  make  but  one  nation, 
which  will  be  a  great  addition  of  strength  to  us. 

his 
The   X    King." 

Catawbas,  21st  November,  1752."  mark. 

During  the  previous  year — viz..  May  2i,  1751 — Governor 
Glen  had  written  to  Governor  Clinton,  of  New  York,  re- 
specting the  Congress  of  Indians  to  be  holden  at  Albany, 
for  the  purpose  of  uniting  the  different  friendly  tribes,  and 
preserving  their  friendship  as  a  bulwark  against  the  more 
hostile.      Of  that  letter,  the  following  extract  will  suffice  : — 

"  Our  first  care,'^  said  Governor  Glen,  "  ought  to  be  to 
make  all  Indians  that  are  friends  with  the  English  friends 
also  among  themselves ;  and  for  that  reason  I  hope  you 
and  the  other  Governors  and  Commissioners  will  heartily 
join  your  interest  in  removing  all  the  obstacles  to  a  peace, 
in  reconciling  all  the  differences,  and  cementing  together  in 
a  closer  union  the  northern  and  southern  Indians,  under 
the  name  of  Norw*^-  Indians.  I  include  not  only  the  six 
nations,  the  Delewares,  and  Susquehanna  Indians,  but  all 
the  different  tribes  who  may  be  in  friendship  with  them, 
particularly  those  on  the  Ohio  River;  as  under  the  name  of 
Southward  Indians,  I  comprehend  the  Cherokees,  the  Ca- 
tawbas, the  Creeks  (called  sometimes  Muscogee),  the 
Chickesaws,  and  such  part  of  the  Chactaws  as  are  in  our 
interest,  and  all  the  tribes  in  friendship  with  these  nations, 
or  that  live  amongst  our  settlements,  such  as  Charraws, 
lichees,  Pedees,  Notches,  Cape  Fears,  or  other  Indians  ; 
and  I  hope  that  all  prisoners  on  each  side  will  be  mutually 
delivered  back.""^ 

On  the  14th  of  October,  1755,  John  Evans  made  a  visit 
to  the  Catawbas,  by  order  of  his  Excellency,  Governor 
Glen.      From  his  journal  the   following  extracts  are  taken, 


Indian  Book,"  vol.  ii.  p.  96. 


HISTORY    OF   THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  15 

and   will  be   found    chiefly   interesting   lierCj  as    containing 
some  information  respecting  the  Pedees  : — 

"October  17th. — Met  a  Catawba  man  and  woman,  and 
informed  by  them,  that  in  the  summer,  the  Clierrackees 
and  Notchees  had  killed  some  Pedees  and  Waccamaws  in 
the  white  people's  settlements. 

"18th. — I  got  into  the  Catawbas.  King  Hazier  was  gone 
a  hunting  the  day  before  ;  the  next  morning  they  sent  for 
him,  and  he  came  in  that  night, 

"  Before  he  got  into  the  nation,  I  made  it  my  care  to 
inquire  of  the  Pedees  if  they  could  not  tell  what  people 
killed  the  Pedees  at  Goose  Creek,  where  the  boys  were 
that  was  taken  prisoners  :  answered,  *  They  could  not  tell 
who  they  were,  but  understood  it  was  the  Notchees  and 
Cherokees  that  did  the  mischief.' 

"  21st. — The  king  and  head  men  met,  and  desired  to 
know  what  I  was  come  for.  I  told  them  that  there  was 
tAvo  Pedee  women  killed  and  scalped,  and  two  boys  carried 
away  from  out  of  the  settlements,  and  that  it  was  done  by 
some  of  theii"  nation  ;  and  one  Notchee,  which  was  called 
the  Notchee  Doctor,  and  his  Excellency,  the  Governor,  had 
sent  me  to  demand  the  boys ;  and  I  then  and  there  de- 
manded these  boys.  I  further  acquainted  them  that  his 
Excellency,  the  Governor,  desired  that  they  would  not  come 
into  the  settlements  without  they  were  sent  for.  The  white 
people  might  mistake  them,  and  do  them  a  mischief,  be- 
lieving them  to  be  enemy  Indians.  I  further  said,  that  it 
was  his  Excellency,  the  Governor's  pleasure,  that  the  Catawba 
people  should  not  attempt  to  carry  away  any  of  the  Indians 
that  are  now  living  in  the  settlements  up  to  their  nation  on 
any  pretence  whatever  without  his  permission  first.  Their  an- 
swer was,  that  old  men  should  always  speak  truth  ;  and  the 
most  of  them  were  grey-headed  ;  and  they,  for  their  parts,  did 
not  hurt  the  Pedees,  and  did  not  know  or  believe  the  mis- 
chief was  done  by  any  belonging  to  that  nation ;  and 
further  said,  that  when  the  Northward  Indians  were  in 
their  nation,  they  bound  the  same  three  women  and  two 
men  ;  and  the  Catawbas  released  the  three  women,  but  the 
Northern  Indians  carried  the  men  away. 

"  22nd. — I  set  out  from   the  Catawba  nation  homcAvard, 


16  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

and  at  night  came  to  a  camp  of  Pedees.  I  acquainted 
them  with  my  errand  to  the  Nation,  and  desired  them  to 
let  me  know,  if  they  could,  who  it  was  that  killed  and 
scalped  the  Pedee  women,  and  carried  the  boys  away. 
Lewis  Jones,  their  chief,  answered,  that  soon  after  the 
Pedees  were  killed,  he  went  down  from  the  nation  to  the 
settlements  to  inquire  what  harm  was  done  by  Goose 
Creek.  He  met  a  Pedee  Indian,  named  Prince,  who  lived 
in  the  settlements ;  and  Prince  told  him,  that  a  day  or  two 
before  the  mischief  was  done,  there  Avas  five  Cherokees  and 
one  Notchee  seen  to  go  by  Monck^s  Corner,  and  Lewis 
John  said,  he  did  believe  they  scalped  the  women,  and  car- 
ried the  boys  away."^ 

The  Cheraws,  following  the  example  of  the  Catawbas, 
were  true  to  the  English,  as  they  continued  to  be  to  the 
colonists  throughout  the  Revolution  and  afterwards. 

They  cheerfully  endured  the  hardships  of  distant  jour- 
neys when  called  upon  for  aid.  In  the  South  Carolina 
Gazette  oi  June  2,  1759,  this  account  was  given: — '^  On 
Tuesday  last,  45  Charraws,  part  of  a  Nation  of  Indians  in- 
corporated with  the  Catawbas,  arrived  in  Town,  headed  by 
King  Johnny,  who  brought  to  the  Governor  the  scalp  of  a 
French  Indian,  which  he  had  taken  near  Loyal-Henning. 
He  and  several  others  that  are  with  him  here,  were  with 
Gen.  Forbes  during  the  whole  expedition  against  Fort  Du 
Quesne.  Their  chief  business  seems  to  be,  to  see  his 
Excellency  and  receive  presents.'^ 

In  the  latter  part  of  this  year  the  great  scourge  of  the 
red  man  appeared  amongst  them,  and  carried  off  many 
Indians  in  this  part  of  the  Province.  In  the  Gazette  of 
December  8th- 15th,  1759,  was  this  sad  account  of  its 
ravages  : — "  It  is  pretty  certain  that  the  small-pox  has  lately 
raged  with  great  violence  among  the  Catawba  Indians,  and  that 
it  has  carried  off  near  one  half  of  that  Nation,  by  throwing 
themselves  into  the  river  as  soon  as  they  found  themselves  ill. 
This  distemper  has  since  appeared  among  the  inhabitants  at 
the  Charraws  and  Waterees,  where  many  families  are  down, 
so  that  unless  especial  care  is  taken,  it  must  soon  spread 


Indian  Book,"  vol.  v.  pp.  94,  95. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHEHAWS.  17 

tlirougli  the  whole  eountry,  the  consequences  of  which  are 
much  to  be  dreaded.  The  smallpox  went  almost  through 
the  Province  in  the  year  1738_,  when  it  made  prodigious 
havoc,  and  has  ever  since  been  kept  out  of  it  by  the  salu- 
tary laws  enacted  for  that  purpose."  So  destructive  and 
rapidly  exterminative  had  been  this  disease  among  the 
Indians  from  its  first  introduction,  that  its  appearance 
brought  on  a  spirit  of  phrenzy  and  desperation.  Ignorant 
and  grossly  superstitious,  they  regarded  it  as  a  visible  em- 
bodiment of  the  Spirit  of  Evil — the  sentence  of  wrath  from 
heaven  let  loose  upon  them,  from  which  there  was  no 
escape.  In  this  state  of  mind  the  disease  found  abundant 
food  for  keeping  itself  alive  and  completing  the  work  of 
destruction.  The  white  families  at  the  ''  Charraws "  and 
"  Waterees,"  who  appear  to  have  suffered  severely  at  this 
period,  -were  doubtless  unprepared  for  such  a  visitant,  and 
having  not  the  means  of  prevention  or  cure  at  command, 
yielded"  for  a  time,  like  their  savage  neighbours,  to  the  fell 
destroyer.  At  a  later  period,  about  the  time  of  the  Revo- 
lution, some  of  the  Catawba  warriors  having  visited  Charles- 
town,  there  contracted  the  disease  again,  and  returning, 
communicated  it  to  their  Nation,  which,  according  to  con- 
temporaneous accounts,  came  well  nigh  being  exterminated. 
It  was  after  this,  having  been  sorely  thinned  by  disease, 
that  they  were  advised  by  their  friends  to  invite  the  Che- 
raws  to  move  up  and  unite  with  them  as  one  tribe.  The 
Cheraws  here  spoken  of  by  the  Avriters  of  the  day,  must 
have  been  a  part  of  the  tribe  which  had  maintained  its  inde- 
pendence probably  in  the  region  lower  down  the  Pedee  or 
on  the  coast,  where  they  led  a  proud  but  feeble  existence. 
That  some  of  them  should  have  refused  to  suljmit  to  what 
must  have  seemed  to  be  the  yoke  of  a  foreign  invader,  is 
not  surprising.  But  their  doom  was  sealed.  No  longer 
able  to  maintain  their  isolated  sway,  or  to  resist  the  destruc- 
tive agencies  at  work  among  them,  a  weak  and  declining 
remnant,  like  the  Catawbas  themselves,  they  gladly  ac- 
cepted the  invitation  to  unite  their  future  wdth  that  of  their 
brethren  who  had  gone  before  them. 

And  now  was   seen  their  last  journey  as  the    representa- 
tives of  a  nation  of  ancient  renown. 


18  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Mournful  as  it  was  short_,  the  march  was  soon  ended ; 
and  henceforth  these  broken  fragments  were  to  constitute 
but  one  nation^  under  the  name  of  Catawbas,  Tor  a  while, 
as  at  the  firsts  the  Cheraws  retained  their  own  language^ 
though  ordinarily  using  the  Catawba. 

They  lived  in  harmony  together^  their  early  feuds  for- 
gotteuj  and  the  jealousies  of  other  days  obliterated  by  those 
common  wants  and  saddened  recollections  which  were 
henceforth  to  mark  their  declining  history.  Within  the 
memory  of  persons  noAV  living,  a  few  of  the  Cheraws  have 
visited  the  upper  Pedee,  to  take  a  last  look  at  the  localities 
which  their  own  traditions  had  identified  as  the  homes  of 
their  fathers.  About  the  year  1700,  the  Catawbas  num- 
bered 1500  warriors.  Only  a  half  century  later  this  proud 
band  had  dwindled  away  to  400,  Their  principal  settlement 
about  this  latter  period  was  on  the  Wateree,  where  their 
country  was  described  as  beiug  "  an  old  waste  field,  seven 
miles  in  extent,  with  several  others  of  smaller  dimensions  ; 
which  shows/^  it  was  added,  "  that  they  were  formerly  a 
numerous  people,  to  cultivate  so  much  laud,  with  their  dull 
stone  axes,  before  they  had  an  opportunity  of  trading  with 
the  English,  or  allowed  others  to  incorporate  with  them.''* 

In  1787  they  were  the  only  organized  tribe,  under  a 
distinct  name  of  its  own,  in  South  CaroHna. 

Their  toAvn,  "  Catawba,''  contained  then  about  450  in- 
habitants, of  which  not  more  than  150  were  fighting  men. 
In  1798  they  are  said  to  have  been  in  the  habit  of  holding 
an  anniversary  meeting  of  a  sadly  interesting  character.  It 
was  intended  to  commemorate  their  former  greatness,  by 
recounting  the  numbers  and  deeds  of  their  ancestors,  of 
which  tradition  had  kept  them  informed. f  Well  might  the 
Catawbas  have  been  proud  of  that  history.  And  well  may 
South  Carolina  cherish  the  memory  of  a  people  who  main- 
tained their  friendshiji  and  their  active  devotion  inviolate 
throughout  the  long  and  trying  period  of  conflicts  waged 
successively  with  savage  foes,  and  those  of  the  same  language 
and  blood  who  came  to  reduce  their  American  brethren  to  a 
state  of  worse  than  colonial  vassalage  ! 


'  Adair."  +  "  Barton's  New  View,"  p.  51. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEEAWS.  19 

Of  the  liberal  provision  made  for  the  Cataubas  in  later 
times  by  the  Legislature  of  South  Carolina,  it  is  uuneccssarj 
to  speak. 

A  portion  of  them  had  removed  at  an  earlier  period  to 
Buncome  eounty.  North  Carolina,  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge, 
and  thither  the  miserable  remnant,  with  few  exceptions, 
followed  a  few  years  since.  Reduced  in  nnmbers  by  disease 
and  intermai'riage,  by  the  contracted  territory  to  which  they 
had  been  confined  while  yet  unfitted  by  the  slow  process, 
through  which  the  Indian  must  always  pass,  for  agricultural 
pursuits  ;  and  withal,  by  those  habits  of  idleness  and  dissi- 
pation which  the  custom  of  leasing  their  lands  to  the  whites, 
and  the  consequent  want  of  employment  had  subjected  them  ; 
drunken  and  wandering  from  place  to  place,  their  condi- 
tion became  as  abject  as  it  had  once  been  elevated  among 
the  red  men  of  Carolina  !  "  In  this  rapidly  declining  tribe," 
says  an  eminent  authority  of  recent  times,  "  we  behold  the 
remnant  of  the  defeated,  long-lost,  and  celebrated  tribe  of 
the  Eries."  It  is  hoped  that  their  history,  in  the  materials 
of  which  the  public  records  of  the  State  abound,  will  one 
day,  as  it  deserves,  be  fully  written. 

Of  the  languages  of  the  Indian  tribes  once  inhabiting  the 
valley  of  the  Pedee,  scarce  a  vestige  is  left,  except  the 
names  of  the  rivers  and  a  few  localities.  The  same  remark 
may  be  made  of  all  the  tribes  which  were  found  at  the  first 
approaches  of  the  white  man  on  the  coast  of  Carolina,  from 
Cape  Hatteras  to  the  Savannah."^ 

Of  the  meaning  of  "  Cheraw,"  reasoning  from  the  affi- 
nities of  the  Indian  tongues,  a  probable  conjecture  may  be 
hazarded.  In  Cherah,  or  Chera,  as  it  seems  at  certain 
periods  of  Indian  history  to  have  been  called,  is  found  a 
close  affinity  with  Chcra-kee.  In  the  language  of  the 
Chera-kees,  Cherah,  or  Chera,  means  fire.  If,  then,  as  seems 
highly  probable,  Cherah  is  identical  with  Serah,  or  Saraw, 
or  Sara — as  Lederer  called  it — now  Cheraw,  it  may  be  con- 
jectured to  have  meant  the  fire  town.  The  site  of  the 
present  town  of  Cheraw,  which  has  retained  the  name,  Avith 
slight  changes,  from   an    early   period,  may  have  been  the 


*  "  Transactions  of  American  Etlinological  Society,"  vol.  ii.  p.  115. 

c  2 


20  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

scene  of  an  extensive  conflagration  when  occupied  by  the 
Indians  ;  or^  being  situated  on  a  high  bluff,  and  visible  as  a 
point  of  observation  and  alarm  for  miles  across,  it  may  have 
been  a  signal  station,  as  such  prominent  localities  often 
were,  to  gain  the  knowledge  of  an  enemy^s  approach,  or 
other  danger,  and  hence  may  have  been  called  Cherah;  in 
Cherokee,  the  fire-town  :  or,  as  may  seem  yet  more  probable, 
in  another  view ;  if,  about  the  period  of  their  first  distinct 
existence  as  a  tribe,being  possibly  an  ofl'shoot  from  theChera- 
kees,at  the  era  of  some  internal  struggle  and  partial  dismem- 
berment of  that  once  powerful  and  widely  extended  nation, 
the  Cherahs,  or  Cheraws,  were  noted  as  fire-eaters,  as  some 
of  the  Indian  tribes  have  been,  the  original  of  the  name  may 
be  found  in  this  circumstance — Clieraw  meaning  fire-eaters. 
After  all,  however,  it  is  one  of  those  points,  the  original 
of  language  in  the  aboriginal  races,  which,  without  the  light 
of  contemporaneous  history,  must  ever  remain  involved  in 
more  or  less  of  darkness  and  uncertainty. 

Of  the  meaning  of  "  Pedee,"  nothing  is  known.  It  has 
even  been  made  a  question  whether  the  name  is  of  Indian 
origin  ;  and  the  opinion  has  been  advanced  that  it  is  not,  on 
the  ground  that  it  appears  to  have  been  unknown  prior  to 
the  English  colonial  setth^ments.  Hence  it  is  conjectured 
that  it  was  of  subsequent  origin,  having  had  its  beginning, 
perhaps,  in  the  initials  of  a  white  man^s  name,  as  of  Patrick 
Daly,  for  example — P.  D. — first  carved  upon  a  tree,  then 
ludianized,  and  so  changed  into  Pedee,  as  we  now  have  it. 
This  theory,  however,  is  wholly  untenable. 

That  the  name  is  not  mentioned  by  the  earliest  writers,  is 
readily  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  the  Pedees,  if  ever  a 
people  of  any  note,  had  then  become  an  insignificant  tribe  ; 
whereas  only  the  more  powerful  nations  of  Indians  engaged 
attention  at  first,  or  were  so  much  as  known  by  name.  The 
earliest  mention  of  Pedee  is  found  in  the  account  of  the 
Eleven  Townships,  one  of  which  was  to  be  laid  cnit  on  that 
river.  This  was  about  the  year  1731-32.'^  But  then  it  was 
spoken  of  as  having  already  been  in  familiar  use.  It  was 
spelt,  too,  not  as  if  it  had  come  from  two  capital  letters,  the 
initials  of  a  proper  name. 

*  Carroll's  "  Historical  Collections,"  vol.  ii.  p.  124. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  21 

Both  the  analogy  and  euphony  of  the  Indian  tongue  in- 
dicate, beyond  all  doubt,  that  Pedee  had  the  same  original 
as  Santee,  Congaree,  Wateree,  Uchee,  and  Sewee,  all  of 
unquestionable  Indian  birth,  and  the  names  of  neigh- 
bouring and  cognate  tribes.  That  the  name  Pedee  does 
not  appear  in  the  earliest  published  accounts  of  Carolina 
may  be  attributed  to  the  fact  that  for  a  considerable  time 
after  the  first  settlement  of  the  Province,  scarcely  anything 
Avas  known  of  that  part  of  the  State,  because  out  of  the 
line  of  the  main  route  of  travel,  far  in  the  interior,  and  at  a 
later  period  only  coming  into  notice. 

Of  the  Indian  remains  on  the  Pedee  which  are  still  to  be 
seen,  though  but  little  trace  is  left^  there  is  nothing  dis- 
tinguishable from  those  in  other  parts  of  the  State,  of 
which  full  accounts  have  been  given.  In  some  instances 
these  remains  are  so  numerous  as  to  indicate  the  existence 
of  once  populous  settlements.  These  settlements,  as 
usually  the  case  with  the  aborigines^  were  made  upon  the 
banks  of  rivers  and  other  large  streams,  on  account  of  the 
fertility  of  the  soil,  for  fishing  purposes,  and  other  facilities 
thereby  afforded. 

In  most  instances  on  the  Pedee  where  these  remains  are 
yet  to  be  seen,  are  found  large  collections  of  fragments  of 
pot-ware  of  varied  shapes,  sizes,  and  devices.  It  is  difficult 
even  to  conjecture  why  such  quantities  of  these  were  de- 
posited at  points  not  far  removed  from  each  other.  They 
could  scarcely  have  been  the  result  of  large  accumulations 
in  those  places  where  the  pot- ware  was  made,  for  they  are 
generally  found  to  be  well-finished  specimens  of  their  kind, 
and  evidently  parts  of  vessels  which  were  once  in  use.  Nor 
does  it  appear  to  be  a  well-founded  opinion,  sometimes 
advanced,  that  upon  the  sudden  breaking  up  of  the  Indian 
settlements,  for  whatever  cause,  these  vessels  of  ornament 
or  use  were  heaped  together  in  one  confused  mass,  and 
with  such  other  chattels  as  could  not  be  removed,  aban- 
doned for  ever.  Their  appearance  indicates  that  they  were 
broken  by  violence ;  and  what  is  more  remarkable,  of  all 
the  specimens  taken  up  at  random  in  any  single  locality, 
scarcely  any  two  are  found  to  be  exactly  alike  in  outward 
device  and  finish. 


22  HISTOEY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

The  ornamental  lines  and  figures  on  the  exterior  are  in 
many  cases  well  executed,  and  for  the  untutored  savage,  ex- 
hibit a  high  degree  of  art.  The  questions,  how  they  were 
broken,  why  collected  in  such  strangely-mingled  masses, 
and  why  other  remains,  as  the  pipe,  the  arrow-head,  the 
stone  axe,  &c.,  are  not  generally  found  among  them,  will 
remain  unanswered;  and  like  so  much  else  we  would  fain 
know  respecting  these  early  occupants  of  the  soil,  continue 
perhaps  among  the  secret  things  of  their  history. 

A  large  vase  or  jar,*  of  three  gallons'  capacity,  was  washed 
up  a  few  years  since  by  the  waters  of  a  freshet  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Pedee,  in  Marlborough  district,  near  Spark's  Ferry.  It 
is  in  a  state  of  almost  entire  preservation,  but  not  so  highly 
finished  as  are  many  of  the  broken  specimens  which  have 
been  recovered.  Like  those  to  which  Lawson  alkides,  in 
his  account  of  the  Congerees,  this  jar  has  a  hole  in  the 
bottom,  not  smoothly  cut,  but  roughly  and  irregularly 
made,  as  if  punched  through  by  some  blunt  instrument 
after  the  vessel  was  finished.  Lawson  supposes  that  they 
were  sometimes  used  for  burial  purposes,  and  that  the  holes 
were  made  in  the  bottom  to  let  off  the  morbid  juices  of  the 
body  going  to  decay.  Some  of  the  specimens  of  pot-ware 
found  are  highly  finished  ;  and,  upon  the  whole,  appear  to 
warrant  the  conclusion  arrived  at  by  the  first  and  most 
thoughtful  travellers  among  our  Indian  tribes,  and  since 
clearly  demonstrated  by  the  results  of  later  explorations, 
that  those  whom  the  Europeans  found,  on  their  first 
discovery  and  settlement  of  the  country,  were  not  the 
ancient  dwellers  in  this  part  of  the  new  world. 

"  The  earthen  pots,-"  says  Lawson,  "  are  often  found 
under  ground,  and  at  the  foot  of  the  banks,  where  the 
water  has  washed  them  away.  They  are  for  the  most  part 
broken  in  pieces ;  but  we  find  them  of  a  different  sort,  in 
comparison  of  those  the  Indians  use  at  this  day,  who  have 
had  no  others  ever  since  the  English  discovered  America. 
The  bowels  of  the  earth  cannot  have  altered  them,  since 
they   are   thicker,   of  another   shape  and    composition,  and 


*  This  vessel  was  presented  to  the  Cheraw  Lyceum,  by  Col.  J.  D.  Wilson,  of 
Darlington. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  23 

nearly  approach  to  tlic  urns  of  the  ancient  Romans."^  "We 
are  tokl  that  they  made  earthen  pots  of  very  different  sizes, 
so  as  to  contain  from  two  to  ten  gallons ;  large  pitcliers  to 
caiTy  water,  bowls,  dishes,  platters,  basons,  and  a  prodigious 
nnmber  of  other  vessels  of  such  antiquated  forms^  that  it 
would  be  almost  impossible  to  describe  them. 

Some  of  the  specimens,  in  a  fragmentary  form,  and 
others  in  a  state  of  preservation,  Avhich  were  found  on  the 
Pedee.  are  of  different  shapes,  and  curiously  finished.  Of 
these  one  is  very  small,  not  holding  more  than  a  gill,  and 
seems  to  have  been  used  for  paint,  or  some  other  valuable 
liquid. 

Another,t  of  which  the  lower  portion  only  is  left,  has  the 
exact  shape,  the  outward  finish,  and  as  much  the  appearance 
of  a  pineapple  as  if  it  had  been  carefully  fashioned  after  that 
as  a  model.  The  process  of  glazing  was  simple,  and  con- 
sisted in  placing  the  vessels  over  a  large  fire  of  smoky  pitch 
pine,  which  made  them  smooth  and  shining.  "  Their  lands 
abounded  in  proper  clay  for  that  use,  and  even  with  porce- 
lain, as  has  been  proved  by  experiment.'^  Wlien  first  dis- 
covered on  the  coast,  the  Indians  were  found  to  cultivate  a 
variety  of  grains  and  vegetables.  The  process  of  clearing 
their  lands  has  been  minutely  described.  Their  stone  axes, 
of  which  specimens  have  been  found  on  the  Pedee,  resembled 
a  wedge  or  smith's  chisel,  and  weighed  from  one  to  two  or 
three  pounds.  They  twisted  two  or  three  tough  hickory  slips 
about  two  feet  long  round  the  notched  head  of  the  axe,  and 
by  means  of  this  simple  contrivance  deadened  the  trees  by 
cutting  through  the  bark,  after  which  they  fell  by  decay,  or 
having  become  thoroughly  dry,  were  easily  burned. 

With  these  trees  they  kept  up  their  annual  holy  fire.  In 
the  first  clearing  of  their  plantations  they  only  barked  the 
larger  timber,  cut  down  the  saplings  and  underwood,  and 
burned  them  in  heaps.  As  the  suckers  put  up,  they  chopped 
them  off  close  by  the  stump,  and  so  made  fires  to  deaden 
the  roots,  till  in  time  they  also  decayed.  The  burning  of 
the  grass  and  underwood  in  the  forests  is  said  to  have  been 
an  ancient  custom    of  the  Indians.      This  may  account  for 

*  Lawson,  pp.  169,  170. 
■f  This  was  also  presented  to  the  Cheraw  Lyceum  by  Col.  Wilson. 


24  HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

the  fact  wliicb  has  been  mentioned  in  connexion  with  the 
first  settlements  by  the  whites  in  the  interior^  that  in  many- 
places  the  woods  were  found  open  to  such  an  extent  that 
even  small  objects  could  be  seen  to  a  great  distance.  These 
burnings  were  practised  by  the  Indians,  as  we  are  told,  "  in 
order  to  allure  the  deer  upon  the  new  grass,  as  also  to  dis- 
cover the  impressions  of  their  enemies^  tracks  in  the  new 
burnt  ground,  distinguishable  to  their  women  and  children, 
in  case  the  raven  should  be  sick  or  out  of  the  way  (thus  they 
call  the  look-out,  whose  business  it  is  to  recognise  the 
avenues  of  their  towns),  who,  as  well  as  any  other  Indian 
(as  they  all  apply  themselves  to  hunting)  are  by  practice  so 
keen  and  precise,  that  they  can  distinguish  and  follow  a 
track,  be  it  of  a  Avhite  man,  negro,  Indian,  or  be  it  of  a  bear, 
deer  or  wolf,  horse  or  cow,  even  on  hard  bottom,  not  ad- 
mitting of  impression  so  as  on  soft  ground,  although  covered 
all  over  with  leaves,  so  that  the  ground  itself  is  not  visible, 
and  even  bare  of  any  grass  or  bushes,  which  by  their  irregular 
bend  may  indicate  a  creature — human  or  animal — having 
trod  upon  or  brushed  by  it/^"^  Having  cleared  their  lands 
in  the  primitive  manner  before  described,  the  Indians  used, 
in  planting  and  tilling,  their  own  made  instruments.  After- 
wards a  common  hoe  was  the  only  implement  employed  in 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil.  They  prepared  their  corn  for  use 
by  beating  it  till  the  husks  came  off,  then  boiling  it  in  large 
earthen  pots.  For  pounding  the  corn,  mortars  were  made 
by  cautiously  burning  a  large  log  to  a  proper  level  and 
length,  then  placing  a  fire  on  the  top  and  wet  clay  around 
it  in  order  to  give  the  interior  a  proper  shape.  When  the 
fire  was  extinguished,  or  occasion  required,  they  chopped  the 
inside  with  their  stone  instruments,  patiently  continuing  the 
process  until  they  finished  the  vessel  for  the  intended 
purpose. 

In  certain  localities  on  the  Pedee,  which  appear  to  have 
been  the  centresf  of  their  once  extensive  settlements,  many 
tumuli  were  once  to  be  seen. 


*  B.  R.  A.,  H.  M.'s  Philosophico-Historico-Hydrogeography  of  South  Caro- 
lina, Georgia,  and  East  Florida,  1751.  Edited  and  republished  by  Plowden, 
C.  J.  Weston,  1856.     P.  189. 

t  The  plantation  of  the  late  James  M'Call,  Esq.,  in  Darlington  District,  on 


f^'*-' 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  25 

They  were  similar  to  some  of  those  described  by  Bartram"*^ 
in  lilast  Florida,  near  the  river  St.  Juan  ;  "  where/'  he  ob- 
serves, "  I  found  the  surface  of  the  ground  very  uneven  by 
means  of  little  mounts  and  ridges.  I  had  taken  up  my 
lodging  on  the  border  of  an  ancient  burying-ground ; 
sepulchres  or  tumuli  of  the  Yamassees,  who  \vere  here 
slain  by  the  Creeks  in  their  last  decisive  battle.  These 
graves  occupied  the  whole  grove,  consisting  of  two  or  three 
acres  of  ground." 

During  a  visit  of  the  author  in  1859  to  the  upper  part  of 
Marlborough  District,  near  the  North  Carolina  line,  a 
mound  was  pointed  out  to  him  which  is  related  by  tradition 
to  have  been  the  scene  of  an  Indian  battle.  On  a  subse- 
quent occasion  it  was  visited  for  the  purpose  of  exploration. 
It  appears  to  have  been  raised  originally  but  a  few  feet 
above  the  surface  of  the  adjoining  level,  and  had  been  almost 
entirely  washed  down.  Its  dimensions  were  about  ten  by 
fifteen  feet.  Many  years  before,  a  partial  excavation  had 
been  made,  and  in  digging  down  on  this  occasion  for  a  short 
distance  small  pieces  of  bone  were  found  mixed  with  the 
earth  throughout,  so  that  no  opinion  could  be  formed  as  to 
the  depth  of  the  first  layer  of  bodies.  Four  feet  below  the  sur- 
face a  point  Avas  reached  where  the  soil  had  not  been  disturbed, 
and  a  little  below  this  were  found  from  four  to  six  skele- 
tons, lying  regularly,  in  a  horizontal  position,  with  the  feet 
to  the  east,  having  evidently  been  placed  in  two  layers.  The 
larger  bones  were  in  a  comparative  state  of  preservation,  and 
one  of  the  jawbones  with  the  teeth  entire,  apparently  of  a 
person  about  middle  age.  With  the  bones  were  found  a 
stone  hatchet,  a  beautiful  arrow-head,  and  a  pipe,  and  strange 
to  relate,  the  smell  of  tobacco  abovit  the  pipe  was  perceptible 
for  several  hours  after  the  exhumation.  The  tradition  re- 
lating to  the  battle  and  the  burial  was  well  founded,  and 
carried  them  nearly  a  century  back. 

As  to  tobacco,  the  Indians  affirmed,  as  some  of  the 
earliest  travellers  among  them  inform  us,  that  the  use  of  it 


the  Pedee,  is  an  instance  of  this,  where   many  remains  of  the  kind  were  once 
visible,  though  now  for  the  most  part  levelled  by  the  plough. 

*  Bartram's   "Travels  in  the   Caroliuas,   Georgia,   East  and  West   Florida," 
1773-71. 


26  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

was  known  to  them  before  the  Europeans  discovered  the 
continent.  The  skill  of  the  Indians  in  medicine^  in  certain 
diseases,  was  remarkable,  the  process  of  cure  being  simple 
and  expeditious.  The  knowledge  of  some  of  the  most 
valuable  plants  now  in  use  was  derived  from  them.^ 

Some  of  the  customs  of  the  Indians  of  Carolina  indicated 
a  degree  of  kindness  and  social  aflPection,  as  well  as  an  ap- 
preciation of  duty,  of  which  they  are  not  generally  supposed 
to  have  been  possessed.  When,  for  example,  one  of  their 
own  nation  had  suffered  any  loss  by  fire,  or  otherwise,  he 
was  ordered  to  make  a  feast,  to  which  all  the  tribe  was  in- 
vited. After  they  had  partaken  of  the  feast,  one  of  their 
speakers,  generally  a  grave  old  man,  delivered  a  harangue, 
informing  them  of  the  particulars  of  the  loss  sustained,  and 
of  their  duty  under  such  circumstances.  After  which,  every 
man,  according  to  his  quality,  threw  down  some  present 
upon  the  ground,  of  beads,  skins,  furs,  or  other  valuables, 
which  often  amounted  to  treble  the  loss  incurred. 

So,  if  one  wished  to  build  a  canoe,  or  make  a  cabin, 
they  rendered  him  assistance,  saying,  "  There  were  several 
works  which  one  man  could  not  effect,  and  that  therefore 
they  must  help  him  ;  otherwise  their  society  would  fall,  and 
they  would  be  deprived  of  those  urgent  necessities  which 
life  requires."^  If  a  woman  lost  her  husband,  and  had  a 
large  family  of  children  to  maintain,  she  was  always  assisted. 
The  young  men  of  the  tribe  were  made  to  plant,  reap,  and 
do  anything  she  was  not  capable  of  doing  herself.  At  the 
same  time  they  would  not  suffer  any  one  to  be  idle,  but 
compelled  all  to  employ  themselves  in  some  work  or 
other,  t 

As  to  religion,  they  believed  generally  that  the  world  was 
round,  and  that  there  were  two  spirits,  the  one  good  and 
the  other  bad.  The  good  spirit  they  reckoned  to  be  the 
author  and  maker  of  everything.  It  was  He,  they  said, 
who  gave  them  the  fruits  of  the  earth ;  and  taught  them 
to  hunt,  fish,  and  be  wise  enough  to  overpower  the  beasts 
of  the  wilderness  and  all  other  creatures,  that  they  might 
be  assistant  and  beneficial  to  man.     They  did  not  believe 


*  Lawson,  p.  172.  f  Lawson,  pp.  178,  179. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  27 

tliat  the  good  Spirit  punished  any  man  in  this  life,  or  that 
to  come,  but  that  he  delighted  in  doing  good,  and  in  making 
his  creatures  wise  and  happy.  The  bad  Spirit  (who  lived, 
as  they  thought,  separate  from  the  good  spirit)  they  made 
the  author  of  sickness,  disappointment,  loss,  hunger,  travail, 
and  all  the  misfortunes  that  Iniman  life  is  incident  to. 
Some  of  our  aborigines  were  found  to  have  traditions  of  the 
great  Deluge,  and  of  this  event  they  gave  a  curious  descrip- 
tion. Of  some  of  their  practices,  and  one  in  particular, 
Lawson  gives  a  singular  account.  He  says :  "  Several 
customs  are  found  in  some  families,  which  others  keep  not ; 
as,  for  example,  the  families  of  the  Mach-a-pangas  use  the 
Jewish  custom  of  circumcision,  and  the  rest  do  not ;  neither 
did  I  ever  know  any  other  amongst  the  Indians  that  prac- 
tised any  such  thing ;  and  perhaps  if  you  ask  them  what  is 
the  reason  they  do  so,  they  will  make  you  no  manner  of 
answer  :  which  is  as  much  as  to  say,  I  will  not  tell  you."* 
They  seemed  to  have  been  unwilling,  for  the  most  part,  to 
give  any  account  of  their  customs,  particularly  those  of  a 
religious  character. 

And  so,  the  same  writer  remarks,  that  he  knew  them,  for 
days  together,  to  be  amongst  their  idols  and  dead  kings, 
though  he  could  never  get  admittance  to  their  sacred  places 
to  see  what  they  were  doing.  The  fact  of  their  practising 
idolatry  at  all  has  been  positively  denied  by  other  travellers, 
who  profess  to  have  informed  themselves  of  all  that  relates 
to  their  habits  and  customs.  It  is  likely  that  the  different 
tribes,  remote  from  each  other,  and  possibly  of  different 
origin,  differed  much  in  their  customs  and  traditional  obser- 
vances, and  hence  the  conflicting  accounts  which  have  been 
given.  Of  one  custom,  remarkable  as  it  is  suggestive,  which 
Lawson  affirms  to  have  prevailed  among  the  Indians  of  Carolina, 
and  of  which  no  other  writer  is  believed  to  give  any  account, 
it  may  gratify  the  curiosity  of  the  reader  to  be  informed. 
It  is  very  certain  that  it  must  have  nipped  the  risings  of 
aboriginal  Young  Americanism  in  the  bud,  leaving  to  a  far 
superior  race  to  exhibit,  in  the  management  of  their  youth, 
much  more  indecision  and  weakness. 


*  Lawson,  pp.  210,  211. 


28  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHEUAWS. 

"  There  is  one  most  abominable  custom,"  says  Lawson, 
"  which  they  call  husquenawing  their  young  men,  which  I 
have  not  made  any  mention  of  yet. 

"  Most  commonly  once  a  year,  or  at  farthest,  once  in  two 
years,  these  people  take  up  so  many  of  their  young  men 
as  they  think  are  able  to  undergo  it,  and  husquenaugh 
them,  which  is  to  make  them  obedient  and  respective  to 
their  superiors,  and  (as  they  say)  is  the  same  to  them,  as  it 
is  to  us  to  send  our  children  to  school,  to  be  taught  good 
breeding  and  letters.  This  house  of  correction  is  a  strong, 
large  cabin,  made  on  purpose  for  the  reception  of  the  young 
men  and  boys,  that  have  not  passed  this  graduation  already  ; 
and  it  is  always  at  Christ-mas  that  they  husquenaugh  their 
youth,  which  is  by  bringing  them  into  this  house,  and  keep- 
ing them  dark  all  the  time,  where  they  more  than  half 
starve  them.  Besides,  they  give  them  Pellitory  bark,  and 
several  intoxicating  plants  that  make  them  go  driving  mad 
as  ever  were  any  people  in  the  world  ;  you  may  hear  them 
make  the  most  dismal  cries  and  bowlings  that  ever  human 
creatures  expressed ;  all  which  continues  about  five  or  six 
weeks,  and  the  little  meat  they  eat,  is  the  nastiest,  loath- 
some stuff,  and  mixed  with  all  manner  of  filth  it's  possible 
to  get.  After  the  time  is  expired,  they  are  brought  out  of 
the  cabiu,  which  never  is  in  the  town,  but  always  a  dis- 
tance off,  and  guarded  by  a  jailer  or  two,  who  watch  by 
turns.  And,  when  they  first  come  out,  they  are  poor  as 
ever  any  creatures  were  ;  for  you  must  know  several  die 
under  this  diabolical  purgation.  Moreover,  they  really 
either  are,  or  pretend  to  be  drunk,  and  do  not  speak  for 
several  days  ;  I  think,  twenty  or  thirty  ;  and  look  so  ghastly 
and  are  so  changed,  that  it's  next  to  an  impossibility  to 
know  them  again,  although  you  was  never  so  well  acquainted 
with  them  before.  I  would  fain  have  gone  into  the  mad- 
house, and  seen  them  in  their  time  of  purgatory  ;  but  the 
king  would  not  suffer  it,  because  he  told  me,  that  they  would 
do  me  or  any  other  white  man  an  injury  that  ventured  in 
amongst  them ;  so  I  desisted.  They  play  this  prank  with 
girls  as  well  as  boys,  and  I  believe  it  is  a  miserable  life 
they  endure,  because    I   have   known    several   of  them  run 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEKAVS^S.  29 

away  at  that  time  to  avoid  it.  Now^  the  savages  say,  if  it 
was  not  for  this,  they  eould  not  keep  tlieir  youth  in  sub- 
jection :  besides  that  it  hardens  them  after  to  the  fatigues 
of  war,  hunting,  and  all  manner  of  hardship,  whieh  their 
May  of  living  exposes  them  to.  Besides,  they  add,  that  it 
carries  off  those  infirm,  weak  bodies,  that  would  have  been 
only  a  burden  and  disgrace  to  their  nation,  and  saves  the 
victuals  and  cloathiug  for  better  people,  that  would  have 
been  expended  on  such  useless  creatures."* 

Lawson  is  the  only  one  of  the  early  Indian  travellers  in 
South  Carolina,  except  Lederer,  who  passed  through  those 
parts  of  the  State  inhabited  by  the  ancient  dwellers  on  the 
Pedee.  ^.  large  part  of  his  book,  however,  is  taken  up 
with  the  natural  history  of  North  Carolina.  He  commenced 
a  journey  from  Charlestown,  December  28th,  1700,  passed 
up  the  San  tee  and  Wateree  Rivers,  and  thence  probably 
across  to  the  Yadkin,  and  through  North  Carolina  into 
Virginia.  Among  the  Catawbas  he  must  have  met  with 
the  Cheraws  and  Pedees,  if  not  in  the  parts  higher  up  on 
our  own  river,  though  he  does  not  mention  them  by  name. 
In  speaking  therefore  of  the  Carolina  Indians  generally, 
his  remarks  will  apply  to  these,  as  well  as  others  more  par- 
ticularly mentioned. 

A  feV\'  years  after  he  was  put  to  death  in  a  most  barba- 
rous manner  by  the  Indians  in  Eastern  North  Carolina ;  to 
which  State  he  had  rendered  most  important  service  as 
Sm'veyor-General,  as  well  as  by  his  interesting  account  of 
the  Natural  History  of  that  region. 

The  author  at  one  time  cherished  the  hope  of  procuring 
some  valuable  traditional  matter  as  to  the  Cheraws,  through 
Wm.  H.  Thomas,  Esq.,  of  North  Carolina,  of  whom  men- 
tion has  already  been  made.  It  was  thought  not  unlikely 
that  during  his  long  and  familiar  intercourse  with  the  Ca- 
tawbas, INIr.  Thomas  might  have  gathered  from  their  tradi- 
tions something  of  the  history  of  the  Cheraws  before  the 
union  of  the  tribes  ;  but  the  hope  was  disappointed.  The 
tradition   of  the    Catawbas,  already  related,  seems  to  be  all 


Lawson,  pp.  233-34. 


30  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

they  have  preserved.  Every  other  source  of  information, 
now  accessible^  has  been  exhausted.  And  with  the  account 
here  given,  meagre  and  unsatisfactory  as  it  is,  we  must  be 
content,  leaving  these  early  occupants  of  the  soil,  proud  and 
valiant  and  numerous  as  they  once  were,  in  that  darkness 
and  oblivion,  to  which  the  red  man,  as  he  has  receded  west- 
ward before  the  advancing  tide  of  civilization,  has  ever  been 
consigned. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CllERAWS.  31 


CHAPTER  II. 

First  settlements  in  the  province — Establishment  of  counties — Craven  County — 
Some  account  of  it — The  boundaries  and  extent — Difficulty  as  to  dividing 
line  between  Craven  and  Berkeley — Province  divided  into  ten  parishes — 
First  parochial  organization  in  Craven  County — St.  James'  Santee — Its 
extent  — Prince  George — Its  boundaries — Prince  Frederick  next  established 
— Settlement  of  line  between  Prince  George  and  Prince  Frederick — Letter 
of  Col.  Pawley — Petition  and  counter-petition  to  Council  on  the  subject — 
Pedee  not  known  in  early  history  of  province — History  of  dispute  as  to 
dividing  line  between  Xorth  and  South  Carolina  on  the  north-east  and  north 
— Some  account  of  the  survey — Conclusion. 

Many  years  passed  away  after  the  first  settlements  ou 
the  coast  of  Carolina  before  they  began  to  extend  very  far 
into  the  interior.  The  country  had  not  been  explored^  and 
the  Indian,  jealous  of  encroachment  upon  his  hitherto  un- 
interrupted domain^  was  hovering  with  murderous  design 
upon  the  borders  of  civilization.  It  was  necessary,  there- 
fore, for  their  own  protection,  that  the  whites  should  remain 
together,  and  cautiously  advance,  as  accessions  were  made 
to  their  numbers,  in  search  of  richer  lands  towards  the 
middle  and  upper  parts  of  the  province.  In  the  meantime 
the  people,  who  had  hitherto  lived  under  a  kind  of  military 
government,  now  began  to  form  a  legislature  for  establish- 
ing civil  regulation.  Accordingly,  the  first  parliament  (as 
it  was  styled)  held  in  South  Carolina,  was  called  together 
in  1674 ;  and  at  this  meeting  acts  were  passed,  which  were 
ratified  by  the  proprietors,  and  preserved  in  the  records  of 
the  colony.* 

In  1682,  it  was  found  necessary  to  divide  the  inhabited 
parts  of  the  province  into  counties,  of  which  three  were 
laid  out — Berkeley,  embracing  Charlestown,  and  the  space 
around  the  capital,  extended  from  Sewee  on  the  north  to 
Stono  Creek  on  the  south ;  beyond  this  to  the  northward 
was  Craven  county ;  and  to  the  southward  Colleton  county, 
all  extending  within   the   land   to    a    distance   of  thirty-five 


*  Hewitt's  "  History  of  S.  C."  iu  1st  Carroll,  p.  59. 


32  HISTORY    OF   THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

miles  from  the  sea-coast."^  Shortly  after,  Carteret  county 
was  added  to  the  number.  These  counties  were  subdivided 
into  squares  of  12,000  acres  each,  for  the  several  shares  of 
the  proprietors,  land-graves,  and  cassiques.f 

Craven,  formerly  denominated  Clarendon  county,  em- 
braced in  its  subsequent  extension  a  much  larger  territory 
than  the  other  counties.  From  Berkeley,  on  the  south,  it 
reached  towards  Cape  Fear  on  the  north,  and  with  North 
Carolina  for  one  boundary  on  the  north  and  north-east,  and 
the  Santee  and  its  branches  on  the  other  sides,  it  extended 
through  a  wide  belt  of  country  from  the  sea-coast  to  the 
mountains. 

At  the  time  of  the  division  into  counties.  Craven  was  so 
sparsely  settled  as  not  to  be  politically  considered.  But, 
twenty  years  afterwards,  it  was  described  as  being  pretty 
well  inhabited,  the  Huguenots  having  settled  on  the  Santee, 
about  which  time  it  sent  ten  members  to  the  Assembly.  It 
took  its  name  from  William,  Earl  of  Craven,  one  of  the 
first  lord  proprietors,  and  long  retained  it. 

This  county  embraced  the  region  of  the  Pedee  through- 
out its  course,  from  the  North  Carolina  line  southward. 
Some  account,  therefore,  of  its  political  divisions  will  be 
given,  extending  down  to  the  period  of  those  settlements  in 
the  upper  parts  of  the  Pedee  country,  to  which  attention  is 
to  be  directed. 

Not  long  after  the  division,  some  disputes  appear  to  have 
arisen  as  to  the  dividing  line  between  Berkeley  and  Craven 
counties,  and  an  Act  of  Assembly  J  was  passed  in  1733  to 
settle  the  same. 

The  first  parochial  organization  in  Craven  County  was 
under  an  Act  of  Assembly  of  1706,  commonly  called  the 
Church  Act,  passed  for  the  establishment  of  religious  wor- 
ship according  to  the  Church  of  England,  and  for  erecting 
churches. 

It  divided  the  Province  into  ten  parishes,  of  which  Craven 
County  constituted  one,  by  the  name  of  St.  James,  Santee. § 


*  Rivers'  "  History  S.  C."  p.  134. 
f  Oldinixon  in  Carroll's  "  Collection/'  vol.  ii.  p.  409. 
X  "  Public  Liiws  of  So.  Ca."  p.  176. 
§  "  Statutes  at  Large  of  S.  C."  vol.  ii.  p.  330. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  33 

By  a  furtlicr  declaratory  Act  passed  in  1708,  the  bounds  of 
the  several  Parishes  were  defined,  and  those  of  St.  James, 
Santee,  were  restricted  as  follows : — "  To  the  N.E.  by 
Santee  River,  to  the  S.E.  by  the  Sea,  and  to  the  S.W.  by 
Berkeley  County/'  In  1721*  the  Parish  of  Prince  George, 
Winy  aw,  was  established, — bounded  "  on  the  S.W.  by  San- 
tee Hiver,  on  the  N.E.  by  the  Cape  Fear  River,  on  the 
East  by  the  Ocean,  and  on  the  West  as  far  as  it  shall  be 
inhabited  by  his  Majesty's  subjects."  Up  to  this  time, 
however,  the  settlements  had  not  extended  far  to  the  north 
and  north-w'cstward. 

They  Averc  gradually  going  up  along  the  line  of  the 
rivers,  Avith  their  rich  alluvial  bottoms.  The  population  of  the 
Province  receiving  constant  accessions  from  abroad,  began 
at  length  to  find  its  way  into  the  interior  ;  and  the  need  of 
extending  organizations  was  felt,  with  the  privilege  of  repre- 
sentation and  other  facilities  for  progress  which  would  be 
thereby  aftbrded.  In  1  731,  this  need  of  a  portion  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Craven  County  was  recognised,  and  a  further 
division  took  place ;  the  Parish  of  Prince  Frederick  being 
established,  and  taken  from  that  of  Prince  George,  Winy  aw, 
embracing,  according  to  the  terms  of  the  Act,  the  region  of 
the  Upper  Pedee  on  the  West.f 

It  was  soon  after  found,  however,  that  this  division  was 
not  sufficiently  definite  as  to  the  Northern  line.  Accordingly 
in  the  following  year,  1735,  the  Act  was  so  changed  as  to 
make  the  said  line  extend  due  North  over  Pedee  River  to 
the  utmost  bounds  of  the  Province,  it  being  provided  "  that 
the  tract  of  land  to  the  East  of  the  said  line,  l)etwcen  that 
and  the  Sea,  should  be  deemed  as  part  of  the  Parish  of 
Prince  George,  Winyaw,  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  said 
line  to  the  West,  a  part  of  the  Parish  of  Prince  Frederick.'' J 

Of  the  existence  and  operation  of  this  amending  Act, 
there  appears  to  have  been  a  singular  oversight  at  a  later 
period,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter. 

Dissatisfaction  still  continued  to  exist  as  to  the  dividing 
line  between  the   two  Parishes,  on  account  of  its  extension 


*  3  "  Statutes,"  p.  171.  t  3  "  Statutes  at  Large,"  p.  374.. 

+  "  Public  Laws,"  p.  111. 


34  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

across  tlie  Pedee.     The  following  letter  of  Colonel  George 
Pawley  brought  the  matter  to  the  notice  of  Council : — 

«  June  1th,  1739. 
"  Please  your  Honour, — I  think  it  my  duty  to  inform 
your  Honour  that  the  dividing  line  of  Prince  George  and 
Prince  Frederick's  Parishes  is  not  yet  finished  according  to 
the  additional  Act  made,  which  was  to  cross  Pedee  River, 
and  continue  a  North  course  till  it  touch  the  Provincial  line  ; 
which,  if  it  is  done,  will,  in  my  humble  opinion,  break  that 
small  company  as  is  of  late  erected  on  that  Neck  lying  be- 
tween Great  Pedee  and  Little  Pedee  rivers  ;  also,  it  will 
cross  some  part  of  Queensborough  Town-ship,  which  is  a 
Parish  of  itself.  Therefore,  if  your  Honour  pleases  to  think 
on  it,  I  don't  doubt  but  you  will  be  of  the  opinion  to  have 
Great  Pedee  the  boundary  of  the  Parish  upward  from  where 
the  line  is  marked  and  strikes  the  said  River ;  for  as  it  now 
stands,  there  is  a  confusion  among  the  Inhabitants,  not 
knowing  in  what  Parish  they  belong;  also,  the  Surveyors 
know  not  how  to  certify  their  Plots,  some  for  one  Parish  and 
some  for  the  other.  Therefore,  if  the  river  be  the  Bounds, 
the  work  is  done,  and  no  charge  to  the  Publick ;  and  that 
your  Honour  may  have  a  better  idea,  I  have  drawn  a  small 
Draft  of  the  Rivers  in  these  Parts  ;  so  I  beg  your  Honour  will 
be  so  good  as  to  forgive,  if  I  have  done  amiss,  for  it  is  not 
my  intent  so  to  do,  but  the  hearty  desire  for  the  good  of 
the  place.  So  beg  leave  to  subscribe  myself  your  Honour's 
most  obedient,  humble  servant  to  command, 

"  George  Pawley.""^ 

"  To  the  Hon.Wm.  Bull." 

Whereupon,  it  was  ''  Ordered,  that  the  Clerk  do  draw  out 
two  copies  of  Mr.  George  Pawley's  letter,  with  the  Draft  of 
the  Rivers,  one  of  them  to  be  sent  to  the  Parish  of  Prince 
Frederick's,  the  other  to  be  sent  to  the  Parish  of  Prince 
George,  to  know  whether  they  have  any  objection  to  make 
to  the  proposals  contained  in  the  said  letter,  for  settling  the 
Boundary  of  these  Parishes,  and  to  return  an  answer." 

The  matter  having  thus  been  referred  to  the  inhabitants, 


*  "  Council    Journal,"  No.  7. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CllERAWS.  35 

action  was  taken  by  them ;  and  on  the  25th  of  January, 
174.'2,  a  Petition  from  sundry  inhabitants  of  Prince  George 
Avas  laid  before  Council,"^  praying  tliat  the  Great  Pedee 
might  be  made  the  dividing  line  between  the  parishes ; 
"  because,  as  it  was  to  be  seen  by  the  Aet  of  1734-35,  it 
would  divide  the  narrow  strip  of  land  between  Great  and 
Little  Pedee  rivers,  and  run  alternately  in  the  swamp  of 
one  or  the  other,  which  would  be  impracticable  to  run,  and 
the  branches  of  Little  Pedee  would  sometimes  make  it  dif- 
ficult to  distinguish  that  river,  the  lakes,  &c."  This  petition 
was  signed  by  George  Pawley,  John  Woodbury,  David 
Cherrey,  and  thirty-eight  others. 

A  counter  petition  was  at  the  same  time  presented  by 
John  Avant,  and  nineteen  others,  inhabitants  of  Prince  Fre- 
derick's, praying  the  line  should  not  be  so  run  : 

"  1st.  Because  the  Inhabitants  residing  between  the  said 
rivers  are  twelve  miles  and  upwards  nearer  to  our  Parish 
Church  than  to  George -town. 

"  2nd.  The  major  part  of  the  abovesaid  inhabitants  must 
go  through  om'  Parish  and  pass  by  our  Church  to  public 
worship,  and  other  religious  duties,  and  other  officers  to 
George-town. 

'^  3rd.  Because  the  said  inhabitants  humbly  pray  to  be 
included  in  the  River. 

"  4th.  Because  the  Town-ship  of  Queensborough  is  laid 
on  both  sides  of  Great  Pedee  river;  and 

"  5th.  That  whenever  the  Legislature  shall  be  pleased  to 
erect  the  Town-ship  of  Queensborough  and  Williamsburg 
into  separate  Parishes,  this  of  Prince  Frederick's  being  the 
oldest  Parish  (from  which  Prince  George  was  divided),  will 
be  confined  to  narrow  limits,  and  consequently  for  ever 
remain  one  of  the  smallest,  if  not  poorest.  Parishes  in  the 
Province,  if  so  valuable  a  branch  as  that  of  Pedee  be  taken 
from  it. 

"  We  further  presume  to  acquaint  your  Hon""*  that  the 
North  line  appointed  by  Act  of  Assembly  to  be  run  from 
John  Bogg's  plantation,  on  Black  River,  was  supposed  and 
intended  (by  our  Representatives)  to  make  Pedee  River  at  or 


'  Couucil  Journal,"  No.  8,  pp.  454,  455. 


36  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHE  RAWS. 

below  the  plantation,  Euhaney,  belonging  to  Mr.  Percival 
Pawley,  about  eighteen  miles  distant  from  said  Bogg's  plan- 
tation ;  but  we  now  find  that  a  North  course  excludes  from 
this  Parish  sundry  families  residing  on  Pedee  E-iver,  near 
the  line  as  it  is  now  marked,  who  constantly  attend  divine 
service  in  this  Parish,  being  about  twelve  miles  distant  from 
our  Church,  and  at  least  twenty-two  miles  from  George- 
town. 

"  We  therefore  pray  your  Hon'^^  to  relieve  the  Inha- 
bitants by  ordering  the  dividing  line  to  be  run  on  a  straight 
course,  which  shall  be  done  on  our  own  proper  charges, 
from  Bogg^s  plantation  to  Euhaney,  that  the  Pedee  River 
be  the  boundary  to  the  mouth  of  Little  Pedee,  which  is 
about  fifteen  miles  above  said  Euhaney,  and  that  Little 
Pedee  river  and  the  main  branch  thereof  be  the  natural 
bounds  up  to  the  Provincial  line/' 

The  Petitions  were  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

As,  according  to  the  original  term  of  extension,  when 
the  Parish  of  Prince  George,  Winy  aw,  was  created,  so  now 
Prince  Frederick  was  made  to  embrace  a  large  part  of  the 
hitherto  uninhabited  and  valuable  region  stretching  out  to 
the  North-westward. 

More  than  twenty  years  after,  in  1757,  the  Parish  of 
Prince  Frederick  was  divided ;  "  the  inhabitants  of  the  upper 
parts  of  the  same  by  their  Petition  to  the  General  Assembly 
having  represented  many  inconveniences  they  labored  under, 
for  the  want  of  such  a  division.^'  An  Act  was  therefore 
passed,  dividing  Prince  Frederick  into  two  Parishes,  "  by 
continuing  the  North-westernmost  line  of  Williamsburg 
Township  to  Pedee  and  Santee  rivers ;  all  the  lands  to  the 
Southward  of  the  said  line,  constituting  a  distinct  Parish  by 
itself,  separate  from  the  other  part  of  Prince  Frederick,  and 
thereafter  to  be  known  as  St.  Mark^s."''  The  Parish  of  St. 
Mark^s  therefore  embraced  that  portion  of  Craven  County 
which  was  west  of  the  Pedee  and  north  of  said  line.  But, 
returning  to  the  Parochial  organization  as  it  was  in  1734, 
and  following  up  the  valley  of  the  Pedee  through  the  then 
Parish  of  Prince  Frederick's,  a  distance  of  about  fifty  miles, 
the  traveller  would  have  entered  at  what  is  now  Marion 
District,   with    Darlington    and   Chesterfield    above  on  the 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  37 

west,  and  Marlborough  on  the  east  of  the  Pedce,  the  terri- 
tory, to  the  early  settlement  and  subsequent  progress  of 
Avhich  attention  is  to  be  given. 

Though  more  than  seventy  miles  in  length,  from  its 
southern  bounds  to  the  line  of  North  Carolina  above,  and 
in  width  from  thirty  to  fifty,  abounding  in  every  variety  of 
soil,  and  presenting  no  mean  facilities  for  transportation  by 
Avater,  this  inviting  region,  until  within  a  few  years  before, 
had  remained  entirely  unexplored. 

There  is  nothing  to  indicate  that  any  settlements  had 
been  made  previous  to  the  year  1730. 

Indeed,  little  was  then  known  of  this  part  of  the  Pro- 
vince. In  some  of  the  descriptions  of  Carolina,  written  not 
many  years  before  the  time  referred  to,  the  Pedee  is  not  so 
much  as  mentioned  by  name.  And  in  an  account  published 
as  much  as  a  half  century  later,  after  the  mention  of  seve- 
ral rivers  of  importance,  among  which  the  Pedee  is  not 
classed,  it  is  simply  added,  "  There  are  many  other  Rivers 
and  Creeks  of  lesser  note.""^ 

Before  any  settlements  were  made  in  the  upper  part  of 
Craven  County,  some  difficulty  had  occurred  in  determining 
the  line  between  South  and  North  Carolina,  which  line 
bounded  Craven  on  the  north  and  north-east.  After  the 
resignation  of  the  Lord's  Proprietors,  in  July  ]  729,  and  the 
consequent  change  of  Government,  the  Province  of  Carolina, 
hitherto  one,  was  divided,  by  order  of  the  Council,  into 
North  and  South  Carolina.f  That  part  of  the  Province, 
described  generally  as  lying  south  and  west  of  Cape  Fear, 
became  South  Carolina.  The  exact  limits  of  each  were  now 
to  be  defined,  and,  as  was  to  be  expected,  disj)utes  arose 
respecting  the  boundary  line,  before  it  was  finally  settled. 
In  1732  appeared  the  first  public  communications  of  a  con- 
flicting character  between  the  Governors  of  the  respective 
Provinces.  This  controversy  led  to  instructions  from  the 
king  to  the  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  in  which  it  was 
said  :  "  in  order  to  prevent  any  disputes  that  may  arise 
about  the  Southern  boundaries  of  our  Province  under  your 
Government,  we  arc  graciously  pleased  to  signify  our  plea- 


»  2  Carroll,  p.  263.  f  "Statutes,"  pp.  405-6. 


38  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHE  HAWS. 

sure  that  a  line  shall  be  run  by  Commissioners,  appointed 
by  each  Province,  beginning  at  the  sea,  thirty  miles  dis- 
tant from  the  mouth  of  Cape  Pear  river,  on  the  South- West 
thereof,  keeping  at  the  same  distance  from  the  said  river, 
as  the  course  thereof  runs  to  the  main  source  or  head 
thereof,  and  from  thence  the  said  boundary  line  shall  be 
continued  due  west  as  far  as  the  South  Seas/^"^ 

Agreeably  to  these  instructions,  the  first  survey  was  made 
in  1735,  under  the  authority  of  the  Royal  Government.  It 
commenced  at  the  mouth  of  Little  River,  on  the  sea-shore  ; 
was  extended  in  a  north-west  direction  64J  miles,  to  a  point 
two  miles  north-west  of  one  of  the  branches  of  Little 
Pedee.  In  1737,  the  line  was  extended  in  the  same  direc- 
tion 22  miles,  to  a  stake  in  a  meadow,  which  was  erro- 
neously supposed  to  be  at  the  point  of  intersection  with  the 
35th  degree  of  north  latitude.  The  entire  length  of  the 
two  lines  is  86  miles  174  poles.  In  1764,  24th  September, 
James  Moore,  George  Pawley,  Samuel  Wiley,  and  Arthur 
Mackay,  under  the  direction  of  Governor  Dobbs,  of  North 
Carolina,  and  Governor  Bull,  of  South  Carolina,  extended 
the  boundary  due  west  from  the  stake  at  which  the  line  of 
1737  terminated,  the  distance  of  62  miles;  intersecting  the 
Charles-town  road  at  61  miles,  to  a  point  near  the  Washaw 
Creek.  In  1772  the  line  was  extended  from  this  point, 
under  the  authority  of  Governor  Tryon,  to  the  Tryou 
Mountain ;  and  the  controversy,  which  commenced  with  the 
formation  of  our  constitution,  and  was  unsettled  until 
1813,  between   North  and  South  Carolina,  grew  out  of  it.f 

Afterward,  a  part  of  the  line  of  1772  was  re-run,  and  the 
line  then  extended  to  the  westward  until  it  reached  a  point 
of  intersection  with  the  boundary  of  Georgia. 

In  a  description  of  South  Carolina,  supposed  to  have 
been  written  by  Governor  Glen  about  the  year  1761,  this 
subject  is  referred  to,  and  certain  reasons  are  there  assigned 
for  the  continuance  of  the  dispute.  He  says  :  "  Tbe  Northern 
boundary  of  South  Carolina  is  not  so  well  agreed  upon   as 


*  1  statutes,  p.  406. 
f  Governor  Swain's  "  Letter  to  Dr.  Cooper,  27th  March,  1835,"  1  '•'  Statute.-* 
at  Large,"  p.  409. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  39 

might  be  expected,  wLich  is  owing  to  the  dishonest  inten- 
tions of  many  lawless  people,  settled  in  those  parts  Avithout 
legal  titles,  and  not  to  any  want  of  attention  in  Govern- 
ment, nor  to  any  difficulty  in  the  thing  itself;  but  these 
people,  by  keeping  up  a  dispute  about  the  boundaries  of 
North  and  South  Carolina,  evade  paying  quit-rents  for  their 
lands,  &c.  ;  and  so  long  as  they  can  enjoy  the  protection  of 
Government  without  contributing  their  quotas  towards  the 
expenses  of  it,  they  will  be  keeping  up  the  dispute  about 
boundaries.  This  they  have  hitherto  done  in  such  manner 
as  to  defeat  the  good  intentions  of  all  the  Orders  and 
Instructions  from  time  to  time  given  for  terminating  these 
disputes  and  ascertaining  the  Boundary,  which,  in  his 
Majesty^s  Instructions,  is  directed  to  be  done  by  rnnniug 
a  line  thirty  miles  to  the  southward  of  Cape  Fear  River, 
parallel  to,  and  observing  the  course  of.  that  River  to  its 
head,  for  the  Boundary  on  that  side  ;  and  though  this  order 
is  not  only  too  explicit  to  be  mistaken,  but  hath  been  put  in 
execution,  or  at  least  is  said  to  have  been  so,  the  good 
intention  of  it  nevertheless  continues  to  be  evaded."^ 

A  part  of  the  line  on  the  north-east  and  north, 
constitutes  that  portion  of  the  present  boundaries  of  Marl- 
borough and  Chesterfield  Districts,  once  embraced  in 
Craven  County.  The  tradition  has  been  handed  down,  that 
the  Commissioners  appointed  to  make  the  survey,  besides 
being  ignorant  of  or  inattentive  to  the  difference  between 
a  statute  and  a  geographical  mile,  were  not  at  all  times  in  a 
fit  condition  for  the  work,  and  that  they  took  advantage  of 
each  other  in  behalf  of  their  respective  States,  as  oppor- 
tunity offered,  or  over-excitement,  on  one  side  or  the  other, 
in  the  course  of  their  gleeful  expedition,  happened  to  pre- 
vail. The  truth  of  the  matter,  as  those  who  have  had 
Occasion  in  later  times,  in  surveying  lands,  to  follow  the 
track  which  the  Commissioners  pursued,  agree  in  stating, 
appears  to  be  this, — that  its  irregular,  zigzag  course  indi- 
cates either  gross  carelessness  in  all  the  parties  concerned, 
or,  that  the  work  w^as  begun  and  ended  in  a  common  frolic, 
at  the  expense  of  both  States. 


*  2  CarroU,  pp.  17S-9. 


40  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

But  thus  it  happened,  that  the  dispute  which  took  its 
rise  prior  to  the  year  1732,  was  not  adjusted  in  all  its  de- 
tails until  near  a  century  after ;  the  Act  for  ratifying  and 
confirming  the  joint  work  of  the  Convention  of  Commis- 
sionerSj  appointed  for  the  estahlishment  of  the  dividing  line 
between  the  tAVO  States,  not  having  been  passed  by  the 
Legislature  of  South  Carolina  until  the  year  1815.  In 
addition  to  the  causes  alluded  to  by  Governor  Glen,  and 
which  were  doubtless  operative  in  protracting  the  contro- 
versy j  it  is  to  be  remarked,  that  there  is  a  feeling  of  State 
pride  likely  to  be  excited  by  the  continuance  of  such  dis- 
putes, a  feeling  often  as  influential  with  States  as  with 
individuals.  There  are  also  peculiar  difficulties  in  the  way 
of  adjusting  such  disputes,  growing  out  of  the  extensive 
and  somewhat  unwieldy  organization  of  States,  and  of  the 
necessary  agency  of  intermediate  and  often  irresponsible 
parties. 

Acting,  too,  at  long  intervals,  it  happens  that  errors, 
which  might  at  first  have  been  readily  exposed,  become 
deeply  rooted  with  the  lapse  of  time,  and  matters,  trivial  in 
themselves,  are  so  magnified,  that  the  controversies  respect- 
ing them  become  in  the  end  exceeding  difficult  of  adjust- 
ment. It  is  to  be  hoped,  that  these  States,  originally  but 
one  Province,  under  the  common  name  of  "  Carolina,^^  and 
bound  together  by  many  affecting  associations  as  well  as 
local  ties,  will  never  again  have  their  good  understanding 
and  harmony  disturbed  by  conflicting  claims  or  border  diffi- 
culties ;  and  with  their  last  dispute  buried  along  the  line  of 
the  now  established  boundary,  will  remain  one,  and  only 
one  in  every  element  of  common  peace  and  common  pros- 
perity hereafter. 

Returning  to  the  year  1734-,  when  the  Act  was  passed 
for  establishing  the  parish  of  Prince  Frederick,  we  find  in 
that,  and  also  Prince  George,  Winyaw  previously  embrac- 
ing that  part  of  Craven  County  to  the  northward,  the 
parochial  organizations  within  the  bounds  of  which  the 
first  settlements  were  made  in  the  upper  parts  of  the  Pedee. 

It  is  a  pleasing  task,  in  tracing  the  early  history  of  any 
region,  to  contemplate  the  change  from  a  state  of  unde- 
A^eloped  resources  in  the  hands  of  the  wandering  savage,  to 


HISTOKY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  41 

the  first  triumphs  of  civilization  by  a  superior  race,  how- 
ever feeble  and  unpretending  their  efforts.  This,  for  a  time, 
will  be  our  employment.  Of  the  early  settlements  on  the 
Pedee,  extending  through  a  period  of  more  than  thirty 
years,  some  account  will  be  given. 

Through  the  aid  of  a  few  individuals,  who  having  a  taste 
for  such  inquiries,  had  gathered  some  information  as  to  th(> 
history  of  families,  and  of  valuable  manuscript  matter  for- 
tunately discovered  here  and  there,  with  the  more  impor- 
tant light  thrown  upon  the  early  emigration  to  this  part  of 
the  State  by  its  public  records,  the  author  succeeded  be- 
yond his  most  sanguine  expectations  at  the  first,  in  collect- 
ing material  for  his  work. 

If  nothing  more  shall  be  accomplished,  it  will  serve  at 
least  to  rescue  for  those  who  cannot  fail  to  cherish  it,  much 
that  would  otherwise  have  passed  into  oblivion. 


4'2  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


CHAPTER    III. 

Inducements  held  out  to  Settlers  in  the  Province — Progress  of  Population — The 
Plan  of  Townships — Its  effect  in  inducing  Immigration — Location  of  Town- 
ship on  the  Pedee — Proceedings  of  the  Council  respecting  it^Draft  of 
Queensborough  Township — The  Welch  Tract — Proceedings  of  Council  on 
the    subject — The    Survey — Its    Limits — Why   enlarged — The    Welch — 

»  Other  Settlers— The  Welch  Neck— The  Welch  Colony — Church  Organiza- 
tion— Continued  Immigration — Names  of  Settlers — Term  of  Welch  Grant 
extended — Immigration  direct  from  Wales — Bounties  offered  by  Govern- 
ment— Names  of  Grantees — Difficulties  encountered  by  the  Welch — Petition 
for  Reliefs  Bounties  continued — Notice  of  other  early  Settlers — Their  Diffi- 
culties with  the  Welch— Exclusive  Policy  of  the  Welch — Accounts  of  diffe- 
rent Families— The  Welch  Settlement— Its  Progress— Welch  Traits. 

From  the  time  of  its  first  settlement^  it  was  esteemed  a 
matter  of  the  utmost  importance  for  the  safety  and  prospe- 
rity of  the  Province  that  its  population  should  increase  as 
rapidly  as  possible. 

To  this  end^  every  inducement  was  held  out  to  immigra- 
tion. The  royal  bounty  was  promised^  in  various  forms,  to 
the  poor  and  oppressed  of  other  lands  to  make  America 
their  home. 

The  unoccupied  territory  of  the  New  World,  fair  and 
fertile,  and  teeming  in  boundless  resources,  was  declared  to 
be  open  to  the  over-burdened  industry  and  fruitless  enter- 
prise of  the  densely  populated  States  of  Europe.  Thus 
encouraged,  large  accessions  were  made,  at  successive 
periods,  to  our  infant  settlements. 

From  1696  to  1730,  although  its  population  gradually 
increased,  no  large  addition  was  made,  at  any  one  time, 
to  the  inhabitants  of  Carolina.  About  the  latter  year,  a 
new  scheme  was  adopted  to  promote  the  settlement  of  the 
province,  which  proved  successful  beyond  the  most  sanguine 
expectations  of  Government.  Governor  Johnson  was  in- 
structed "  to  mark  out  eleven  Townships,  in  square  plots,  on 
the  sides  of  rivers,  consisting  each  of  twenty  thousand 
acres,  and  to  divide  the  land  within  them  into  shares  of 
fifty  acres  for  each  man,  woman,  and  child  that  should  come 


HISTORY   OF   THE   OLD   CHERAWS.  43 

over  to  occTipy  and  improve  them.  Each  township  was  to 
form  a  Parish,  and  all  the  inhabitants  were  to  have  an  equal 
right  to  the  river.  As  soon  as  the  Parish  should  increase  to 
the  number  of  a  hundred  families,  they  were  to  have  the 
right  to  send  two  members  of  their  own  election  to  the 
Assembly,  and  to  enjoy  the  same  privileges  as  the  Parislies 
already  established.  Each  settler  -was  to  pay  four  shillings 
a  year  for  every  hundred  acres  of  land,  excepting  the  first 
ten  years,  during  which  term  they  were  to  be  rent  free. 
Governor  Johnson  issued  a  warrant  to  St.  John,  Surveyor- 
General  of  the  Province,  empowering  him  to  go  and  mark 
out  these  townships ;  but  he  having  demanded  an  exorbitant 
sum  of  money  for  his  trouble,  the  members  of  the  Council 
agreed  among  themselves  to  do  this  piece  of  service  for  their 
country.  Accordingly,  eleven  townships  were  marked  out 
by  them  in  the  following  situations  : — Two  on  the  River 
Alatamaha,  two  on  Savanna,  two  on  Santee,  one  on  Pedee, 
one  on  Waccamaw,  one  on  Wateree,  and  one  on  Black 
River.'^* 

The  township  on  the  Pedee  was  called  Queensborough ; 
and  to  the  time  of  its  being  marked  out — 1731-32 — or  a 
period  but  little  subsequent,,  is  to  be  assigned  the  date  of  our 
first  settlements.  There  was  no  delay  in  the  execution  of 
this  work  (of  marking  out  the  townships),  which  had  been 
committed  to  the  Governor  hy  his  Majesty's  Government, 
for  building  up  its  waste  places,  and  the  more  speedy  settle- 
ment of  the  Province. 

The  first  proceedings  with  reference  to  the  laying  out  of 
the  townships  was  in  meeting  of  the  Council  on  Friday, 
March  16th,  1731,  in  Charles-town ;  his  Excellency  the 
Governor,  the  Hon.  Lieutenant  Governor,  Messrs.  Arthur 
Middleton,  Robert  Wright,  Thomas  Waring,  John  Fenwick, 
and  William  Bull,  being  present.  It  was  resolved,  "  That 
the  Hon.  Mr.  Chief  Justice  Wright  and  Alexander  Skeeue, 
Esq.,  do  mark  out  three  Townships,  pursuant  to  his  Majesty's 
instructions  for  that  piu'pose,  a  copy  of  which  is  to  be  given 
them,  with  this  resolution — one  upon  Black  River,  one  upon 
Pedee  River,  and   the    other  upon    Waccamaw  River — that 


*  1  Carroll :  "  Hewitt's  History,"  p.  196. 


44  HISTORY    or    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

they  return  Plots  of  the  same  to  this  Board,  and  that  they 
be  allowed  £500  currency  for  each  Township  out  of  the 
Public  Treasury  for  marking  out  the  same/^^  Other  per- 
sons were  also  appointed  on  this  occasion  to  mark  out 
townships  on  other  rivers,  according  to  instructions.  In 
the  following  year — viz.,  March  1732 — the  township  on  the 
Waccamaw  appears  to  have  been  laid  out,  and  called  Kings- 
ton. "  We  are  assured,^'  said  the  Council,  in  reply  to  a 
message  on  the  subject  from  the  lower  House,  "  that  at 
the  time  of  marking  the  said  Township,  there  were  no  set- 
tlements made  within  the  same,  except  one,  then  begun  by 
Jennour,  who  claimed  700  acres,  but  by  what  title  we 
could  not  learn,  he  then  being  in  North  Carolina ;  nor 
were  there  any  other  claims  made  to  any  lands  within  the 
Township,  that  we  could  hear  of,  save  only  by  Mr.  William 
Watties,  of  500  acres,  at  a  place  called  Pond  Bluff,  but  not 
then  settled/^t 

On  the  2nd  of  June,  of  the  same  year,  the  Commissioners 
made  fullteturns  of  the  plans  of  the  towns  and  townships, 
which  they  had  marked  out,  pursuant  to  a  resolution  in 
Council,  of  the  20th  of  March  previous,  on  Waccamaw, 
Pedee,  and  Black  Rivers,  and  were  ordered  to  be  paid  ac- 
cordingly. From  the  annexed  plot  or  draft,  Queensborough 
Township  appears  to  have  been  laid  out  on  the  Great  Pedee, 
but  a  short  distance  above  the  mouth  of  Little  Pedee  River, 
embracing  a  part  of  what  has  since  been  knoAvn  as  Britton 
Neck  (a  narrow  strip  of  land  between  the  two  rivers),  and 
extending  also  on  the  west  side  of  the  Pedee.  But  for  this 
Plot,  most  unexpectedly  found,J  the  exact  location  of  the 
Township  of  Queensborough  could  not  have  been  deter- 
mined. It  was  probably  a  part  of  the  return  made  by  the 
Commissioners,  or  may  have  been  the  "  Draft  of  the  Rivers,'^ 
accompanying  the   letter  of  Colonel  Pawley,  to  Council,  of 


*  "  Council  Journal,"  No.  5. 
t  "  Council  Journal,"  No.  5,  p.  202. 
J  It  was  discovered  by  mere  accident  by  the  author,  on  a  loose  piece  of 
paper,  on  turning  over  the  leaves  of  what  appeared  to  be  the  oldest  record - 
book  in  the  Secretary  of  State's  office,  Columbia,  and  which  was  being  examined 
as  a  curious  relic  of  the  past.  Its  contents  related  to  other  matters  of  anterior 
date. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  45 

June  7  th,  1739,  iu  couucxion  with  the  dividing  line  between 
Prince  George  and  Prince  Frederick's^  which  has  already 
been  given. 

No  settlements  appear  to  have  been  made  up  to  this 
time  within  the  limits  of  Quecnsborough  Townsliip.  To 
encourage  such  settlements,  generally,  further  action  was 
taken  by  Council. 

On  the  14-th  of  February,  1734-,  it  was  ordered,  "That 
the  several  persons  who  have  laid  out  the  several  Town-ships, 
do  prepare  a  rough  draft,  or  plan  of  a  Town,  to  be  layed  out 
iu  each  Town-ship,  containing  about  800  acres,  out  of  which 
a  common  of  300  acres,  to  be  laid  out  in  the  back  part,  and 
the  remaining  500  acres  to  be  lay*^  out  in  half-acre  lots,  to 
be  at  a  convenient  distance  from  the  river,  which  rough 
Draft  or  Plan,  is  to  be  lay*^  before  this  Board  for  their  con- 
sideration.""^ 

In  accordance  with  these  instructions,  the  draft  or  plan 
of  a  town  in  Quecnsborough  Townshipf  was  made,  as  ap- 
pears from  a  notice  in  the  Gazette,  as  late  as  June  3rd- 
lOth,  1751,  advertising  Lot  No.  64,  in  Quecnsborough  Town. 
There  is,  however,  no  evidence  remaining  to  show  that  the 
town,  as  such,  was  ever  settled.  Its  location  appears  to 
have  been  on  the  w-est  bank  of  the  river.  The  inducements 
held  out  in  connexion  with  the  townships  appear  to  have 
led  to  a  visit  of  some  of  the  Welch  from  Pennsylvania  for 
the  purpose  of  exploration  and  settlement,  and  to  the  re- 
moval, very  shortly  after,  of  the  colony,  which  was  destined 
to  form  so  important  an  element  in  the  history  and  progress 
of  the  region  of  the  Upper    Pedee.      The   emigration  from 


*  "  Council  Journal,"  No.  6,  pp.  41,  42. 
f  The  Form  of  a  Grunt  for  Lots  in  the  Townships,  was  as  follows  :  — 
So.  Carolina. 

By  his   Excellency,  Esq.,  Governor,  Captain-General   and 

Commander  in  Chief,  in  and  over  the  Province  of  So.  Carolina. 

To  ,  Esq.,  Surveyor- General. 

You  are  forthwith  required  to  admeasure  and  lay  out  unto  , 

a  lot  in  the  town,  as  also  acres  in  the  Township  of  Queenshorough,  on  the 

IVdee  River,  in  Craven  County,  observing  to  lay  the  same  out  agreeable  to  the 

Plan  or  Jlodel  thereof. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  the  day  of         ,  Anno  Domini 

(Council  Journal,  No.  5,  p.  257.) 


46  HISTORY   OF  THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Wales  to  Pennsylvania^  from  wliicli  this  to  Pedee  proceeded, 
"  had  its  beginning/^  we  are  told,  in  the  following  manner. 
"In  the  spring  of  1701,  several  Baptists  in  the  counties  of 
Pembroke  and  Cairmartheu,  resolved  to  go  to  America  ;  and 
as  one  of  the  company,  Thomas  Griffith,  was  a  minister, 
they  were  advised  to  be  constituted  a  Church.  They  took  the 
advice,  and  the  instrument  of  their  confederation  was  in 
being  in  1770,  but  is  now  lost  or  mislaid.  The  names  of 
the  confederates  were  as  follows ;  viz.,  Thomas  Griffith, 
Griffith  Nicholas,  Evan  Edmond,  John  Edward,  Elisha 
Thomas,  Enoch  INIorgan,  Richard  David,  James  David, 
Elizabeth  Griffith,  Lewis  Edmond,  Mary  John,  Mary 
Thomas,  Elizabeth  Griffith,  Tennet  David,  Margaret  Mat- 
thias, Tennet  Morris.  These  sixteen  persons,  which  may 
be  styled  a  Church  emigrant,  met  at  Milford  Haven, 
in  the  month  of  June,  1701,  embarked  on  board  the  good 
ship  William  and  Mary ;  and  on  the  8th  of  September 
following,  landed  at  Philadelphia.  The  brethren  there 
treated  them  courteously,  and  advised  them  to  settle  about 
Pennepec ;  thither  they  went,  and  there  continued  about  a 
year  and  a  half,  during  which  time  their  Church  increased 
from  sixteen  to  thirty- seven. 

But,  finding  it  inconvenient  to  tarry  about  Pennepec, 
they,  in  1703,  took  up  land  in  Newcastle  County,  from 
Messrs.  Evans,  Davis,  and  Willis,  who  had  purchased  said 
Welch  tract  from  William  Penn,  containing  upwards  of 
30,000  acres,  and  thither  removed  the  same  year,  and  built 
a  little  meeting-house  on  the  spot  where  the  present  stands. 
This  house  was  a  neat  brick  building,  forty  feet  by  thirty. 

The  Welch  tract  was  first  in  the  province  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, afterwards,  upon  the  change  of  boundaries,  in  the 
State  of  Delaware.  This  will  account  for  the  fact,  that  the 
Welch  were  sometimes  spoken  of  as  being  come  from  Penn- 
sylvania, at  other  times  from  Delaware."^ 

Some  of  those  who  were  members  of  the  colony  on  Pedee 
must  have  followed  the  first  emigration  from  Wales  to 
Pennsylvania,  as  their  names  do  not  appear  in  the  foregoing 
list. 


Benedict's  "  History  of  the  Baptists,"  p.  4. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS.  47 

The  first  visit  of  the  Welch  to  Pcdce  appears  to  have 
been  made  in  the  latter  part  of  1735,  or  early  in  the  follow- 
ing year.  It  led  to  a  remarkable  act  of  favour  on  the  part 
of  the  Conncil,  to  induce  the  colony  to  come.  Wishing,  on 
their  arrival,  to  settle  in  a  body,  and  be  possessed  of  ample 
and  exclusive  privileges  as  to  the  occupancy  of  the  soil,  they 
petitioned  the  Government  that  an  extensive  tract  of  land 
might  be  appropriated  to  their  sole  benefit  for  a  certain 
period.  This  appears  from  a  message  of  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor  to  the  Lower  House  of  Assembly,  2nd  February, 
1737,  in  which  he  said: — "The  late  Lieutenant-Governor, 
with  the  advice  of  his  Majesty's  Council,  thought  it 
would  greatly  tend  to  the  service  and  strengthening  of  this 
Province,  to  grant  the  petition  of  several  natives  of  the 
Principality  of  Wales,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  others  of 
their  countrymen,  who  intended  to  settle  in  this  Province 
from  Great  Britain  and  Pennsylvania,  praying  the  lands 
near  the  Forks  above  the  Township  on  Pedee  River  might 
be  reserved  and  set  apart  for  their  use,  and  Mr.  John  Ould- 
field,  being  thought  a  very  proper  person,  was  employed  for 
that  service.""^ 

The  petition  here  referred  to  bore  date  August  13th, 
1736;  and  having  been  favourably  received  by  the  Council, 
iiis  Majesty's  Surveyor-General,  James  H.  St.  John,  Esq., 
was  instructed  to  have  the  said  tract  laid  out.  Accordingly, 
he  directed  a  precept  to  John  Ouldfield,  bearing  date  Nov. 
16th,  1736,  "  to  admeasure  and  lay  out,  for  the  Welch 
families  that  were  to  be  imported  to  this  Province  a  tract  of 
land,  containing  in  the  whole  one  hundred  and  seventy-three 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty  acres,  situated  and  being 
in  Craven  County.  Ten  thousand  acres,  being  part  thereof, 
lying  within  the  limits  of  the  Township  of  Queen sborough,  on 
the  north  side  of  Pedee  River,  the  remainder  of  said  tract 
lying  on  the  south  side  of  said  river,  and  butting  and  bound- 
ing to  the  south-east  on  the  reserved  lands  of  the  said  Town- 
ship of  Queen  sborough,  and  all  other  sides  on  vacant  lands 
as  are  supposed.'' 

The  survey  was  made,  and  a  plot  thereof  returned  29th 


*  "  Council  Journal,"  No.  5,  pp.  51,  52. 


48  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Nov.  1736,  of  Tvhich  a  copy  is  annexed."^  With  reference  to 
this  plot,  the  Lieutenant-Governor  sent  a  message,  2nd 
February,  1737,  to  the  Lower  House,  saying: — "I  send  it 
for  your  satisfaction  and  perusal,  also  his  (Ouldfiekrs)  ace* 
which  I  think  so  very  reasonable,  hope  you^  make  provision 
to  pay  the  same,  as  the  sinking  fund  is  so  far  short  of  answer- 
ing the  engagements  already  entered  into."t 

The  House  replied  the  next  day  as  follows  : — "  In  answer 
to  your  Honour's  message  just  now  received,  with  the  ac- 
count of  Mr.  John  Ouldficld,  for  surveying  the  Welch  Tract 
of  land  on  Pedee  River,  we  beg  leave  to  inform  your 
Honour,  that  we  have  perused  the  said  account,  and  we  are 
very  much  concerned  to  find,  as  the  ace*  is  so  very 
moderate  and  reasonable,  that  there  should  not  be  money 
sufficient  in  the  Town- ship  Fund  to  discharge  it.  But  we 
hope  your  Honour  will  concm*  with  us  in  opinion,  that  it  is 
by  no  means  necessary,  nor  would  be  justifiable  in  us  to  Tax 
our  Constituents  to  pay  any  such  expence,  especially  as  it 
may  be  so  much  more  justly  and  reasonably  done  by  the 
duty  on  Negroes,  should  it  be  thought  proper  by  your 
Hon"",  in  conjunction  with  the  two  Houses  of  Assembly, 
to  revise  and  continue  that  Duty,  without  which  we  cannot 
foresee  any  method  by  which  this  ace*,  or  any  other  of 
the  same  sort,  can,  with  justice  to  the  People  of  this  Pro- 
vince, be  provided  for. 

"  By  order  of  the  House, 

"Charles  Pinckney,  Speaker.J 
"  Feb.  3,  1737-8." 

The  tract  thus  surveyed,  and  extending  up  the  river  but 
a  short  distance  above  Mars  Bluff",  seems  not  to  have  been 
adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  Welch,  or  to  have  been  a  com- 
pliance by  Council  with  their  petition  of  the  August  previous, 
as  was  intended.  They  consequently  petitioned  again  for 
such  an  extension  of  the  tract  as  would  answer  all  their 
purposes,  and  enable  them  to   select  their  lands  to    advan- 


*  The  original  Plot  was  found,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  among  the  old 
^"ownship  Plots,  in  the  Office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  Charleston. 

t  "  Council  Journal,"  No.  7,  pp.  51,  52.  +  Ibid. 


A  PLOT    OF  TIIK 

WEIXJI    GRANT, 

CONTAINING  173,840  ACRES. 

Sra/r  of  Oritjmal Plot  SS Chaifi.s  perlruh  . 
Scah'  of  Copy  (tf  Plot  320  Chat  ii.\-  per  Inch  . 


By  \irtiLe  ofFrecept  to  Trie  directrd.  ly  JamesR.John.i.Kiif' RisMajesb/s Surveyor 
Ceneraljietirintf  date  ihc  Sixteenth  of  Nwemha]1736. 1  have,  admeasured  and  laid  out  fhrthz  Wdch,thmi}yxihat 
are  to  be Bnported^  todasFroi'ince.a  TraetofLaiid  contauting  mihe  whole  OneJBiandred  an/t  Seventy  tkree^-z) 
Tkousaitd.KqhtHuiidred  and  lorb,- Airs,  sihuifed  and  heing  in  Craven  Comity.  Jen  Thausti/id  Arrs,  heuig  part 
ihereof  Lyinij  wlthirr  ih,'  IvnHs  of  the  Ihwo.slup  of  Qiweiiboroiujh  on  t/ieNortfi  side  of  Fed. e  Kner.theBemawder 
ofSoid  Tnirl  hiiuf  on  both  sides  of  said  River.  Biitiinei  S-  lioiwding  to  the  Soiidi  East  on  the  Reserved  Lands 
of  the  said  Townshij^  of  (Jueenshurmujh  ,and  all  otJur  siiles  on.  vacantLands  as  is  supposed,<f  li/rtJi  .•meli 
sha/ie.  Ibmi  and  marks  as  are  Sepresenied  bythis  BeUiuatedTlot^  thereof  given,  under  my  luind . 
29  .'  Day  of  Naveniher.  1736 .    per  me,      I Siqn^d.  j 

Deputy  Surveyor . 
Note—  This  Copy  made  May  22'^.  1859.  troni  Original  Plat  irv  Secretary  of  State's  0/fi/x . 

Depuiy    Surveyors.  (y^ 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  49 

tage.  Their  request  was  favourably  regarded,  as  appears 
from  the  following  Proclamation  :  ''  By  the  Hon.  Thomas 
Broughton,  Esq.,  Lieut. -Governor,  and  Commander-in- 
Chief,  in  and  over  his  Majesty's  Province  of  South 
Carolina. 

"  Whereas,  I  have  this  day  received  information  in  Coun- 
cil, from  Dan^"  James,  that  the  Lands  which  David  Lewis, 
Sam^-  Wild,  and  the  said  Dan'-  James,  prayed  for  in 
their  petition  of  13th  August  last,  to  be  set  apart  for  the 
Welch  Families  mentioned  therein,  were  the  vacant  Lands 
they  viewed,  and  desired  might  be  reserved  for  them,  lying 
on  each  side  of  Great  Pedee  River,  and  up  to  the  two  Main 
Branches  thereof,  and  that  the  Lands  set  forth,  and  pre- 
scribed in  the  order  of  Council  of  the  21st  January  last, 
are  not  the  Lands  they  desired,  and  were  assigned  them 
agreeable  to  the  said  Petition ;  nor  will  these  Lands  suit 
their  intention  of  planting  Hemp  and  Flax ;  and  whereas  I 
have  also  received  information  from  the  said  Dan'-  James, 
that  several  of  the  said  Families,  on  the  encouragement  they 
had  from  the  first  Order  of  Council,  have  sold  their  Posses- 
sions in  Pennsylvania,  some  being  arrived,  and  others  on 
their  way  to  this  Province,  I  have  therefore  thought  fit,  by 
and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  his  Majesty's  Hon. 
Council,  to  issue  this,  my  Proclamation,  to  give  Notice, 
that  I  have  (with  the  advice  and  consent  aforesaid)  refused 
the  said  last  order  of  Council  of  the  21st  of  January  last, 
and  confirmed  the  said  first  order  of  the  13th  of  August ; 
and  have  ordered  that  the  Lines  be  run  parallel,  as  near  as 
may  be,  with  the  course  of  Great  Pedee  River ;  and  further 
to  give  Notice,  that  the  Surveyor-General  is  ordered  and 
directed  to  instruct  his  Deputies  not  to  survey,  (for  any  other 
Persons  than  the  said  Welch  people)  any  more  of  the  said 
Lands  above  Pedee  Township,  lying  Avithin  eight  miles  on 
each  side  of  the  said  River,  and  so  up  to  the  Branches  afore- 
said. Given  under  my  hand  and  the  Great  Seal  of  this 
his  Majesty's  Province,  this  8th  day  of  February,  in  the 
10th  year  of  his  Majesty's  reign,  Annoque  Domini,  1737."* 

This  extension  of  the  Welch  Tract  up  the  Pedee  to  the 


*   Gazette,  Fob,  5.12,  1737. 


50  HISTORY    OF  THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

two  main  brandies  thereof^  gave  the  infant  Colony  exclusive 
privileges  over  a  large  territory^  embracing  for  more  tban 
one  hundred  miles  by  the  course  of  the  river,  its  rich 
alluvial  bottom,  and  a  valuable  class  of  lands  in  proximity 
to  the  swamp.  The  two  main  branches  referred  to,  must 
have  been  the  Yadkin  and  Uwhare,  or  Yadkin  and  Rocky 
Rivers — most  probably  the  latter  ;  in  either  case,  a  point 
(their  junction)  something  considerably  abovethe  present  boun- 
dary line  between  South  and  North  Carolina, — the  Rocky  and 
Yadkin  Rivers  uniting  twenty-five  miles  above  the  said 
State  lines,  and  the  Yadkin  and  Uwhare  not  less  than  fifty. 
"With  such  inducements  to  emigrate  to  the  Pedee,  the  Welch 
were  not  slow  in  making  their  way  to  the  Province.  The 
first  visit  of  exploration  by  a  few  of  their  number  was 
made  not  later  than  the  spring  of  1736.  They  appear, 
however,  to  have  been  preceded  by  some  other  settlers.  The 
first  name  of  which  any  record  has  been  found,  was  Joseph 
Dopson.  He  was  a  grantee  of  130  acres  of  land,  in  what 
was  afterwards  the  Welch  Tract,  as  early  as  11th  May, 
1733. 

This  fact  appears  in  a  petition  to  Council  by  Jacob  Kolb, 
in  1753,  for  the  said  land,  the  Petitioner  stating  therein 
that  the  said  grant  was  still  in  the  Survej^or-GeneraFs 
Office.  The  name  of  Dopson  seems  to  have  disappeared  not 
long  after  from  the  country.  He  may  have  been  a  squatter, 
or  merely  in  search  of  land,  not  making  Any  permanent 
settlement.  The  earliest  grants  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  in  the  upper  part  of  what  is  now  Darlington  District, 
go  back  to  the  year  1734.^  Of  the  names  of  the  Grantees 
no  record  perhaps  remains.  Lands  were  surveyed  for 
Richard  Barrow  in  what  was  called,  soon  after,  the  Welch 
Neck,  as  early  as  January  1736.t  Nothing  is  known  of 
him,  the  name  ha\dng  soon  after  disappeared  from  this 
region.  This  was  the  case  with  many  others  of  the  first 
comers.  They  probably  belonged  to  that  class  of  people 
who  live  on  the  outskirts  of  civilization,  leading  the  way  as 


*  On  the  authority  of  the  late  Hon.  Josiah  J.  Evans,  in  a  letter  to  the  Author. 
Judge  Evans  was  proverbially  accurate  in  his  recollection  of  such  matters, 
f  Of  this  fact  the  original  evidence  is  in  tlie  Author's  possession. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    ClIERAWS.  51 

hunters,  aud  keeping  in  the  van  of  permanent  settlers. 
They  are  not  unfrequently  men  of  enterprise,  but  with  a 
roving  disposition,  and  distaste  for  those  wholesome  restraints 
which  soeicty  imposes  on  its  members.  Exploring  the  way 
that  others  may  follow,  they  have  often  rendered  essential 
service  in  the  settlement  of  new  regions,  without  being 
generally  appreciated,  however,  or  taking  any  place,  as  they 
have  deserved,  in  the  history  of  man.  Thus  it  was  with 
many,  Avhose  names  appeared  in  the  first  record,  only  to  be 
known  for  a  short  time  afterward.* 

In  1736,  or  early  in  the  following  year,  a  company  of  the 
"Welch  settled  on  Cat  Fish,  a  stream  in  what  is  now  Marion 
District,  in  the  tract  first  assigned  them.  Among  these  were 
Jenkin  and  Owen  David. f  They  remained  there  a  short  time, 
and  then  removed  higher  up  the  river  to  the  neighbourhood  of 
the  Welch  Neck.  As  appears  from  the  petition  which  led  to 
the  extension  of  the  Welch  Tract  much  above  its  original 
boundary,  the  lands  on  the  upper  Pedee  seem  to  have  suited 
their  agricultural  purposes  better,  being  well  adapted  also  to 
settlements  immediately  contiguous  to  the  river.  To  that 
rich  and  compact  body  of  land,  embraced  in  a  bend  of  the 
river,  opposite  the  present  village  of  Society  Hill,  and  called, 
from  an  early  period,  the  "  Welch  Neck,''  the  attention  of 
these  prudent  settlers  appears  from  the  first  to  have  been 
directed.  And  there  they  began  to  gather  in  a  body. 
The  "  Welch  Neck''  extended  from  Crooked  Creek  above 
(on  its  outer  line),  to  the  "  Red  Bluff"  below,  a  distance  of 
about  six  miles,  embracing  the  rich  lands  of  the  swamp, 
several  miles  across.      During  the  Revolution,  or   about   a 


*  In  the  letter  of  Judge  Evans,  already  referred  to,  and  written  March  29, 
1858,  hut  a  short  time  hefore  his  death,  he  remarks  in  confirmation  of  the  fact 
stated  above,  "  that  of  the  8  to  10  grants  of  which  his  plantations  on  Crooked 
Creek,  jMarlborough  District,  was  made  up,  the  name  of  not  a  single 
one  of  the  original  grantees  was  known,  at  a  period  long  antecedent,  in  the 
country." 

f  Jenkia  David  died  before  the  Revolution.  He  had  three  sons — Joshua, 
Josiah,  and  Benjamin.  Of  these,  Joshua  lived  to  take  an  active  part  in  the 
Revolution.  He  died  in  1822,  and  was  the  father  of  the  late  Captain  Joshua 
David,  of  Marlborough. 

Owen  David  had  four  sons — John,  Azariah,  Owen,  and  Jenkin.  Of  these, 
John  was  the  only  son  who  remained  on  the  Pcdee,  the  others  having  left  the 
country  at  an  early  period.  From  these  two  progenitors  the  extensive  and  re- 
spectable coimexion  of  the  name  in  Marlborough  has  descended. 

E  2 


52  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

generation  after  the  first  settlement,  the  ''  Company  which 
mustered  at  the  M'Ca^ll  old  field/'  numbered  from  130  to 
140,  all  of  them  said  to  be  Welch.  Between  the  years  1736 
and  1746,  almost  all  the  lands  in  the  Welch  Neck  were 
granted  *  By  the  latter  part  of  1737  most  of  the  families 
from  Pennsylvania  had  arrived,  and  the  infant  Colony  began 
to  assume  an  organized  and  permanent  character.  Under 
its  leader,  James  James,  Esq.,t  were  laid  the  foundations  of 
future  growth  and  prosperity.  Mr.  James  was  possessed  of 
larger  means  than  any  of  his  companions,  and  the  most  pro- 
minent individual  among  them. 

At  this  time  a  respectable  portion  of  the  Colony  consisted 
of  the  following  persons,  \\z.,  James  James  and  wife,  Philip 
James|  and  wife,  Daniel  Devonald  and  wife,  Abel  James 
and  wife,  Daniel  James  and  wife,  Thomas  Evans  and  wife, 
John  Jones  and  wife,  Thomas  Harry  and  wife,  Daniel  Harry 
and  wife,  John  Harry  and  wife,  Samuel  Wild  and  wife,§ 
Samuel  Evans ||  and  wife,  Griffith  Jones  and  wife,  David 
Jones  and  wife,  Thomas  Jones  and  wife. 

There  were  also  others  whose  names  appear  at  the  same 
period,  viz.,  Thomas    James,  Griffith  John,  William  James, 


*  On  the  authority  of  Judge  Evans's  letter. 

t  Mr.  James  owned  the  lands  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  at  what  is  now 
known  as  Spark's  Ferry.  The  first  public  Ferry  in  this  region  was  established 
here  in  1768.  He  died  at  Cat  Fish,  Nov.  21,  1769,  where  he  had  probably 
gone  on  a  visit. 

X  Philip  James  was  a  son  of  James  James,  Esq.,  and  the  first  Pastor  of  the 
Welch  Neck  Church.  He  was  born  near  Pennepec,  in  Pennsylvania  in  1701. 
He  removed  to  Carolina,  in  1735,  and  was  ordained  at  the  Welch  Neck, 
April  4,  1743,  His  death  took  place  in  1753.  "  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life," 
said  a  subsequent  writer,  '*  his  mind  wa,s  full  of  heavenly  joys,  and  attentive 
only  to  spiritual  concerns." — Wood  Furman's  "  History  of  the  Charleston  Asso- 
ciation," p.  70. 

§  Wild  was  a  name  ever  after  to  be  prominently  connected  with  the  history 
of  the  Pedee.  The  first  settler  appears  to  have  had  two  sous,  John  and  Abel. 
Abel  was  known  afterwards  and  before  the  Revolution  as  Old  Colonel  Wild.  His 
residence  was  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river,  nearly  opposite  the  Long  Bluff. 
His  widow  was  a  lady  noted  in  her  day  for  excellence  and  strength  of  character. 
Colonel  Wild  had  four  sons — John,  Samuel,  Jesse,  and  George.  John  Wild,  the 
other  brother,  was  the  father  of  John  and  Samuel.  The  latter  of  these  became 
distinguished  as  Judge  Wild,  and  was  a  man  of  very  remarkable  character.  His 
brother  John,  who  died  prematurely,  is  said  to  have  been  even  more  talented. 

II  Evans,  like  Wild,  was  a  name  destined  to  become  distinguished.  From  these 
first  settlers,  Thomas  and  Samuel,  sprang  the  large  and  highly  respectable  con- 
nexion on  the  Pedee.  The  late  Judge  Evans  was  a  descendant — being  a  great- 
grandson  of  Thomas  Evans. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   OLD   CHERAWS.  53 

Jolin  Newberry,  Evan  Harry,  Henry  Oklacre,  Hasker  New- 
berry,* William  Eynon,  James  Roger,  David  James,  Daniel 
Dousnal,  Samuel  Sarance  (Sorrency  and  De  Sorreney  as  it 
was  sometimes  written),  Evan  Vaughn,  William  Tarellf 
(Terrell.) 

The  first-mentioned  company  J  were,  in  January,  1738, 
"  organized  into  a  society  of  the  Baptist  faith,^^  and  erected 
a  house  of  worship  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river,  a  short 
distance  above  the  ferry. § 

There  they  long  continued  to  worship  God  after  the 
manner  of  their  fathers,  and  in  that  consecrated  spot,  where 
some  monumental  remains  are  yet  to  be  seen,  their  dead 
repose,  awaiting  the  last  summons.  This  party,  with  others, 
appear  to  have  moved  in  a  body  from  the  W^elcli  Tract  in 
Pennsylvania  and  Delaware  to  the  Pedee  diiring  the  pre- 
vious year,  if  not  a  little  earlier.  Many  sore  lets  and  hin- 
drances awaited  the  progress  of  their  settlements. 

Of  one  of  these  grievances  complaint  was  made  to  Go- 
vernment, as  appears  from  the  following  message,  sent  by 
the  Upper  House,  or  Council,  January  26th,  1737,  to  the 
Commons  House  of  Assembly  : — 

"  Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen, — Some  of  the  Welch 
Settlers  on  Pedee  have  lately  complained  to  me  that  they  have 
sufficient  reason  to  believe  that  the  Indians  will  molest  and 
disturb  them  in  settling  the  Lands  run  out  for  the  Welch, 
intimating  that  one  Thompson,  a  trader,  has  bought  a  great 
quantity  of  that  Tract,  and  pretends  to  hold  it  by  an  Indian 
right,  which,  as  I  apprehend  this  practice  may  be  attended 


*  In  his  "  Annals  of  Newbury  District,"  in  attempting  to  trace  the  origin  of 
the  name,  Judge  O'Neall  says  :  "  Certain  it  is  that  a  family  of  that  name  once 
lived  beyond  Pedee,  in  that  section  now  called  Marlborough  District " — p.  vii. 
It  is  not  improbable  that  some  member  of  this  family  may  have  removed  to  that 
part  of  the  State,  and  hence  the  name,  afterward  given  to  the  district. 

t  The  grandfather  of  the  late  Captain  John  Terrell,  of  Marlborough,  a  worthy 
descendant  of  the  old  Welch  stock,  and  one  of  the  best  men  of  his  day  and 
generation.  Captain  Terrell's  father,  William  Terrell,  was  engaged  in  the 
public  service  before  the  Revolution,  but  did  not  survive  that  period. 

X  This  list  of  names  was  taken,  with  other  information,  from  the  records  of 
the  Welch  Neck  Church,  the  most  of  which,  however,  were  unfortunately  de- 
stroyed by  fire  or  otherwise  many  years  since.  The  earlier  records  now  remain- 
ing are  very  meagre. 

§  Now  known  as  Spark's — on  the  road  leading  from  Society  Hill  to 
Bennetsville. 


54  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

with  fatal  consequences,  I  desire  jov}  appoint  a  Committee 
of  your  HousC;,  to  join  a  Committee  of  his  Majesty's 
Council,  to  consider  of  the  most  eflfectual  method  to  prevent 
any  private  contracts  mtli  Indians  for  the  land. 

"Wm.  Bull/'* 

A  few  days  after,  Committees  were  appointed  to  consider 
the  subject,  and  measures  were  adopted  to  prevent  such  diffi- 
culties in  the  future. 

The  tide  of  immigration  had  now  set  in,  and  constant 
additions  were  made  to  the  population  on  the  Pedee.  "  At 
a  Councilf  held  at  Ashley  Ferry,  Sep*  16th,  1 738,  the  Hon. 
W^  Bull,  President,  signed  the  following  grants  for  land 
in  Queensborough  Township,  viz. : — 

"  Jacob  Buckholt       .  .      250  acres. 

Jeremiah  Pickling  .      450      „ 

Richard  Thompson  .      400      „ 

Joseph  Jolly  .  .      600  acres.'' 

The  Government  continued  to  manifest  a  due  concern  for 
fresh  accessions  to  the  "Welch  population. 

In  the  Council  Chamber,  11th  May,  1739,  it  was  ordered, 
''  That  the  Term  for  reserving  the  "Welch  Tract  upon  Pedee 
River  for  the  sole  benefit  of  the  "Welch  and  Pennsylvanians,  be 
prolonged  for  the  space  of  two  years  from  the  expiration 
thereof,  in  the  month  of  August  next,  and  all  Persons  are  re- 
quired to  take  Notice  thereof  at  their  Peril.  By  order  of  his 
Honour  the  Lieu*  Governor,  and  his  Majesty's  Hon^  Council. 
"  Alexr.  Cramahe,  C.C.":[: 

This  was  a  liberal  policy  on  the  part  of  Government,  and 
an  act  of  great  favour  to  the  W^elch. 

The  spirit  of  speculation  began  to  show  itself  as  to  landed 
estate  even  at  this  early  period.  On  the  25th  of  July,  1739, 
1,000  acres  were  advertised  in  Queensborough  Township, 
but  by  whom  does  not  appear. 

The  removal  of  the  "Welch  from  Pennsylvania  and  Dela- 
ware, and  the  reports  made  to  their  countrymen  in  'V^'^ales, 
seem  to  have  excited  a  spirit  of  emigration  thither  from  that 


*  "  Council  Journal,"  No.  7,  p.  38. 
t  Gazette,  Oct.  5,  1738.  J   Gazette,  May  12-19,  172 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  55 

country.  The  colonial  authorities,  haviug  received  some 
tidings  of  this  kind,  hchl  out  additional  inducements  to  them 
to  come  over.  The  following  announcement  was  made  in 
the  Gazette  of  the  7th  and  14th  July,  1739  :— "  In  council, 
the  7th  day  of  July,  1739.  There  being  great  reason  to 
believe  that  many  poor  People  of  the  Principality  of  Wales 
would  remove  into  this  Province,  provided  they  could  be 
sure  of  having  the  same  Bounty  (over  and  above  the  Land 
allowed  by  his  Majesty)  as  other  poor  Protestants  have 
heretofore  had  who  have  become  settlers  in  his  Majesty^s 
Townships, — Resolved,  that  the  sum  of  Six  Thousand 
Pounds  shall  be  reserved  out  of  the  Township  Fund,  to  be 
appropriated  as  a  Bounty  to  the  first  two  hundred  People 
above  twelve  years  of  age  (two  under  twelve  years  of  age  to 
be  deemed  as  one)  wdio  shall  arrive  here  from  the  Principality 
of  Wales,  and  become  settlers  upon  the  Welch  Tract  upon 
Pedee,  -within  the  Space  of  Two  Years  from  hence,  the  said 
Bounty  to  be  proportioned  as  follows,  viz. : — 

"  To  each  Head  above  twelve  years  of  age,  twelve  bushels 
of  Corn,  one  Barrel  of  Beef,  Fifty  w*.  of  Pork,  one  hundred 
w*.  of  rice,  one  Bushel  of  Salt. 

"  To  each  Male  above  twelve  years  of  age,  also.  One  Axe, 
one  Broad  Hoe,  one  Cow  and  Calf,  and  one  Young  Sow.  And 
the  charge  of  measuring  out  and  the  Fifty  acres  of  Land  per 
head  allowed  by  his  Majesty.     A  true  copy. 

"Alexander  Cbamahe,  C.C."       , 

The  inducements  here  offered  are  supposed  to  have  en- 
couraged and  increased  the  emigration  direct  from  Wales. 
By  the  year  1746,  as  abeady  remarked,  almost  all  the  lands 
in  the  Welch  Neck  were  granted,  having  been  taken  up  ex- 
clusively by  the  Welch. 

The  number  of  settlers  had  largely  increased  between 
1740  and  1743.  The  following  list  of  names  and  of  the 
quantities  of  land,  respectively  allotted,  with  the  dates  of 
entries,  will  convey  some  idea  of  the  progress  made  down  to 
the  year  1743.  The  list  did  not  embrace  the  names  of  all 
who  had  arrived,  but  only  of  those  Avho  had  neglected  to 
comply  with  the  requirements  of  the  law  respecting  the 
Township  Settlers,  and  whose  neglect  operated  to  the  preju- 


56 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


dice  of  others  who  might  wish  to  come  in.    It  is  taken  from 
the  Gazette  of  August,  1743. 

''  A  list  of  Township  Plots  (on  the  Bounty)  in  the  Sur- 
veyor-General's Office,  August  15th,  1743  : — 


Queensborough  Township. 

Thomas  James 

650  acres  . 

October 

3. 

1738. 

Griffith  Jones 

300 

>> 

}} 

4, 

Griffith  John 

100 

}) 

September 

1, 

William  James 

400 

}) 

» 

}> 

John  Newberry 

350 

}}  .  ' 

}) 

2, 

Henry  Oldacre 

50 

)) 

)> 

4, 

Hasker  Newberry 

300 

)} 

}) 

5. 

Evan  Harry 

100 

>> 

}} 

30, 

William  Eynon 

500 

jj 

August 

23, 

James  Roger 

50 

}> 

}} 

26, 

David  James 

400 

}} 

27, 

Thomas  Evans 

400 

>} 

}} 

)) 

Daniel  Dousnal 

200 

>} 

)} 

,, 

John  Jones 

250 

)} 

28, 

Sam\  Sarance 

100 

}> 

29, 

Richard  Barrow 

150 

» 

» 

}) 

Evan  Vaughn 

350 

>} 

» 

30, 

Abel  James 

300 

}> 

}> 

31, 

William  Tarell 

200 

}} 

}> 

Thomas  Walley 

50 

}> 

May 

18, 

1740. 

Philip  James 

250 

}) 

„ 

21, 

Sampson  Thomas 

400 

}} 

}} 

23, 

Jacob  Buckles 

250 

)} 

}) 

24, 

Peter  Kishley 

400 

)} 

June 

2 

John  Evans 

200 

>} 

February 

i 

John  Newberry 

100 

}} 

November 

22, 

1741. 

Wm.  Tarell 

100 

}} 

December 

9. 

Thos.  Evans 

250 

)) 

}) 

10, 

»         )} 

75 

14, 

Abel  Evans 

100 

}) 

» 

11. 

John  Evans 

100 

}} 

,, 

}} 

Mary  Evans 

300 

}} 

13, 

John  Jones 

100 

}> 

}} 

1, 

Jeremiah  Rowell 

150 

}} 

}> 

16, 

HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


57 


Queensboroiigh  Township- 
James  Rowland      150  acres  . 


Evan  Vaughn 
John  Westfield 
Thomas  EUeby 
Simon  Parsons 
John  Carter 
Wm.  Evans 
Job  Edwards 
Daniel  James 
John  Jones 
David  Harry 

Philip  James 
Philip  Douglas 
William  Carey 
Mary  Evans 
David  Malahan 
Thomas  Moses 
William  Jones 
Nicholas  Rogers 
Thomas  Evans 

}■>  )} 

William  James 


100 
300 
250 
100 
100 
50 
200 
350 
500 
125 

100 
300 
300 
200 
150 
220 
400 
350 
100 
125 
200 


-{continued). 

December  14,  1741. 
17,     „ 


18,      „ 

22,  „ 

23,  „ 
28,     „ 

24,  1742. 


January 


23, 


27, 

29, 

31, 

1, 

1743 

4, 

5, 

>} 

6, 

15, 

28, 

29, 

"  Upon  perusing  and  considering  the  Memorial  of  George 
Hunter,  Esq.,  Surveyor- General,  relating  to  several  Plots 
of  land  returned  into  and  now  lying  in  the  Office  of  the 
said  Surveyor-General,  and  which  have  remained  in  the 
said  Office  for  many  years,  without  any  applications  from  the 
Persons  in  whose  names  the  same  are  run,  to  have  them 
taken  out  of  the  said  Office,  whereby  other  Persons  are  pre- 
vented from  taking  up  the  said  Lands,  and  becoming  Tenants 
to  his  Majesty  for  the  same:  It  is  Ordered  that  the  said  List 
be  published  in  the  Gazette,  to  the  intent  that  the  several 
Persons  interested  in  or  claiming  the  same  may  apply  for, 
and  take  out  the  said  Plots,  on  or  before  the  1st  day  of 
January  next ;  and  in  case  of  their  neglecting  so  to  do,  their 
failure  therein  will  be  taken  as  a  Disclaimer  of  their  Rights 
to  the  said  Lands ;  and  the  same  Lauds  may  and  shall  be 


58  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

granted  to    any  other  persons  ^^ho  shall  duly  apply  for  the 
same.    A  true  copy. 

"Alexander  Gokdon,  C.C' 

The  neglect  of  most  or  all  of  those  mentioned  in  the 
foregoing  list  to  take  out  their  j^lots,  &cc.,  may  doubtless  be 
owing  to  the  fact  that  they  were  too  poor  to  do  so,  or.  that 
the  lands  first  granted  were  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Welch 
Tract,  and  taken  out  before  its  extension  ;  and  having  de- 
termined to  go  higher  up  the  river,  some  of  them  may  have 
abandoned  their  claims  below,  where  their  places  were  soon 
taken  by  others. 

In  common  with  other  settlers,  the  Welch  had  many  dif- 
ficulties to  contend  against.  The  means  of  most  of  them 
were,  no  doubt,  exhausted  by  the  expense  of  the  removal  to 
Pedee.  After  their  arrival,  the  distance  from  Charles-town, 
the  seat  of  Government,  where  all  public  business  had  to  be 
transacted,  perplexed  them  no  little.  The  following  extracts 
from  the  Council  Journals  will  sliow  the  mode  of  proceeding 
with  reference  to  land,  and  the  sore  extremities  to  which 
these  poor  settlers  were  often  driven. 

"  In  Council  Chamber,  Jan.  2G,  1742-43.  Read  the 
Petition  of  part  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Welch  Tract,  as 
also  the  Petition  of  Sam^  Sorrency,  as  follows,  viz.  :  To 
the  Hon.  Wm.  Bull,  Lieu^-Gov""  and  Commander-in-Chief 
of  his  Majesty's  Province  of  S.  C,  and  to  the  rest  of  the 
Hon^  Members  of  his  Majesty's  Council. 

"  The  Petition  of  Samuel  Sorrency  Humbly  sheweth. 
That  your  Petitioner  at  his  first  arrival  in  this  Province 
obtained  a  Warrant  for  100  acres  of  land,  to  be  laid  out  in 
the  Welch  Tract,  whereon  I  now  live, — That  your  Peti- 
tioner hath  since  two  children  come  from  Pennsylvania  to 
this  place,  which  I  have  made  oath  of  before  Wm.  James, 
Esq.,  who  informs  me  that  it  will  not  do  without  my  proving 
my  right  in  the  Council  Chamber ;  but  as  I  am  but  low  in 
the  world,  and  live  at  so  great  a  distance  from  Charles-town, 
and  not  having  a  horse  to  ride  nor  money  to  bear  my  ex- 
penses, and  the  Bearer,  Thomas  Bowen,  can  prove,  if  need 
be,  that  I  have  such  children — Your  Petitioner  therefore 
humbly  prays  your  Honours  to  take  my  case  into  considera- 


niSTOKY    OF   THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  59 

tion,  and  grant  mc  a  warrant  for  100  acres  of  his  INIajesty's 
land,  to  be  laid  out  in  the  Welch  Tract,  and  your  Petitioner, 
as  in  duty  bound,  &c. 

"  The  above  and  Samuel  James  swore  to  his  family  right 
before  Wm.  James,  Esq.,  one  of  his  Majesty^s  Justices 
assigned  to  keep  the  Peace  in  Craven  County  aforesaid. 
The  Prayer  of  said  Petition  was  granted,  and  it  was  ordered, 
that  Mr.  Secretary  Hammerton  do  prepare  a  wan'aut  ac- 
cordingly. 

"  Read  also  the  Petition  of  Daniel  M'Daniel,  for  a  war- 
rant of  100  acres,  for  himself  and  wife,  to  be  laid  out  in  the 
Welch  Tract,  which  was  granted 

"  Read  also  the  Petition  of  several  other  Inhabitants  of 
the  Welch  Tract,  as  folloAvs  : — 

''  The  Petition  of  part  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Welch 
Tract  humbly  sheweth :  That  we  have  left  Pennsylvania  and 
have  transported  ourselves  to  this  ProAdnce  by  the  encou- 
ragement given  to  settle  this  aforesaid  Tract  of  land ;  but  as 
some  of  us  had  our  lands  run  out,  and  the  Plots  put  into 
the  Siu'veyor-GeneraPs  office  4  years  ago,  and  as  we  are 
so  poor  that  we  cannot  get  money  to  pay  the  charge  of  sur- 
veying and  granting  it,  has  discouraged  many  from  coming 
over;  and  we  are  afraid  the  discouragement  being  so  great, 
we  not  being  sure  of  our  grants,  by  reason  of  our  poverty, 
that  some  that  have  come  over  will  return  from  us  again. 
So  we,  your  Humble  Petitioners,  hope  your  Hon"^  and  Hon'^ 
will  take  it  into  your  serious  consideration,  what  satisfaction 
it  is  to  every  man  to  have  his  titles  to  land  secure,  and  will 
fulfill  the  encouragement  given  us  that  we  should  have  our 
lands  granted  us  free  fi'om  all  charge  of  surveying  and  grant- 
ing ;  and,  as  we  are  in  duty  bound,  we  shall  ever  pray,  &c. 
"Philip  James  Abel  James  Peter  Roblyn 

Jeremiah  Rowell  Tho**  Evans  Creen  Vaughn 

Philip  Douglass     John  Evans  Nicholas  Rogers 

Daniel  Devonald  John  Evans  Simon  Parson 

DaAT.d  Harry  John  Carter  David  Lewis 

Tho'  Evans  W"  Kirby      .        Sam^  Sorrency 

Tho*  Moses  Griffith  John         W"  Terrell 

Mary  Evans  Dan'  Honehorn     John  Jones 

Jobe  Edwards        Walter  Downe      Abel  Evans 
Nathan'  Evans       David  James         W™  James. 


60  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

"  Wliereupon,  it  having  been  represented  to  liis  lion''  the 
Lieu*-Gov'"  in  Council,  that  several  families  of  Welch  that 
had  intended  to  become  settlers  in  the  whole  Tract  on  Pedee 
River,  in  this  Province,  have,  as  it  was  apprehended,  been 
prevented  from  coming  into  this  Province  from  the  dangers 
arising  from  the  present  war  with  Spain,  and  that  by  the 
advices  received  from  Pennsylvania,  several  of  the  said 
Welch  families  were  expected  to  arrive  here  the  next  year ; 
but  as  the  time  for  reserving  the  Welch  Tract  would  expire 
in  the  month  of  August  next,  it  was  prayed  that  the  said 
Term  might  be  further  enlarged — the  same  was  considered, 
and  it  was  ordered  by  his  Hon'"  the  Lieu^-Gov'",  by  the  ad- 
vice of  his  Majesty^s  Council,  that  the  said  Term  be  enlarged 
two  years  from  the  expiration  of  the  said  present  Term ;  of 
which  all  persons  concerned  are  to  take  notice. 

"  And  upon  reading  and  considering  the  Petition  of 
Philip  James,  Abel  James,  Tho^  Evans,  and  others,  settlers 
in  the  whole  Tract,  praying  that  the  charge  of  surveying 
and  granting  their  lands  might  be  all  defrayed  to  them ;  it 
was  the  opinion  of  the  Board,  upon  considering  the  Prayer 
of  the  Petition,  as  it  appeared  to  the  Board  that  they  had 
desired  the  lands  only  to  be  reserved  for  a  Term  to  them, 
which  was  accordingly  done,  and  which  Term  had  been  fur- 
ther enlarged  for  their  benefit,  bvit  was  not  to  have  their 
survey  of  land  carried  through  the  offices  at  the  publick 
expense,  that  being  only  for  such  W^elch  as  should  come 
from  the  Principality  of  Wales — that,  as  this  Prayer  of  the 
Petitioners  is  what  they  had  not  before  asked,  nor  had  any 
reason  to  expect  from  this  Government,  it  could  not  be  re- 
gularly granted;  but,  for  a  further  encouragement  of  the 
Settlers  of  the  said  Tract,  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  Board, 
and  so  ordered,  that  for  the  first  twenty  barrels  of  good  and 
merchantable  white  flour,  of  200  lbs.  weight  neat  each,  which 
shall  be  made  in  the  said  Tract,  and  brought  to  the  markets 
in  Charles-town,  there  shall  be  paid  to  the  makers  thereof, 
upon  proof  of  its  being  bona  fide  the  produce  of  the  said  Tract, 
a  bounty  of  5  pounds  currency  for  each  barrel.  Ordered, 
that  the  Clerk  of  this  Board  give  a  copy  of  the  above  minute 
to  the  Petitioners  and  the  same  to  the  Commissary/^* 


*  "  Council  Journal,"  No.  8,  pp.  455-458.     There  was  then  a  great  demand 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  61 

The  exclusive  privileges  of  the  Welch  in  the  large  tract 
appropriated  to  them,  led,  in  some  instances,  to  difficulties 
either  with  those  who  came  before  them,  thus  acquiring  the 
right  of  prior  occupancy  of  the  soil,  though  not  having 
secured  a  legal  title,  or  with  others,  who  afterwards  were 
allowed  to  settle  among  them,  but  subsequently  objected  to 
as  neighbours  by  the  Welch.  The  latter  were  doubtless 
clannish  in  their  feelings,  and  unwilling  to  encourage 
strangers  to  come  among  them.  Of  the  first  class  men- 
tioned, was  Francis  Young,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
within  the  limits  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  Welch  Tract 
of  whom  any  record  remains.  He  is  supposed  to  have 
emigrated  from  Ireland.  In  the  Council  Journal,  9th  No- 
vember, 1743,  is  this  entry  :  "  Francis  Young  petitioned  for 
150  acres  of  land  in  the  Welch  Tract  on  the  south  side  of 
the  river,  bounding  between  John  Thomases  line  and  one 
Vaughn's  land ;  and  the  Petitioner  at  the  same  time  pro- 
duced a  certificate  of  his  having  lived  there  before  the 
settlement  of  the  Welch,  signed  by  two  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  in  that  place.  He  appeared  in  person,  and  his  peti- 
tion was  granted." 

Another  settler,  about  the  same  time,  the  first  of  a  name 
which  has  since  been  well  known  on  the  Pedee,  was  James 
Galespy.  He  made  a  similar  application,  but  was  not  so 
fortunate,  for  a  time,  at  least,  as  to  the  result. 

On  the  same  day,  9th  November,  1743,  "  was  read  the 
Petition  of  James  Galespy,  shewing  that  the  Petitioner, 
having  six  persons  in  family,  for  whom,  as  yet,  he  has  not 
had  any  lands  assigned  him,  humbly  prays  that  a  warrant 
of  survey  for  300  acres  be  granted  him  in  the  Welch  Tract. 
But,  not  appearing  to  swear  to  his  family  right,  his  petition 
was  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table."" 


for  flour,   and  it  doubtless   commanded   high   prices.     Of  other  articles,  the 
following  table  of  prices  appeared  in  the  Gazettes  of  the  day. 

Charlestown,  November  1,  1739.  ■  Charlestown,  July  16,  1741. 

Rice  32.?.  to  33*.  per  cwt.  Rice  3/.  percwt.;  Skins,  16*.  GcZ.  per  lb. 

Pitch,  40s. ;  Turpentine,  20*.  Pitch,  55.«.  per  barrel. 

Tar,  30s. ;  Skins,  18a'.  to  19s.  Tar,  45s. ;  Indian  corn,  30s.  per  bushel. 

Indian  corn,  7s.  Qd.  to  lOs.  per  bushel.      Turpentine,  22s.  Qd. 

Indian  peas,  30s.  per  bushel. 


62  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEBAWS. 

At  the  same  time,  Henry  Roach  made  a  similar  application 
for  100  acres  of  land  in  the  Welch  Tract;  but  not  appearing  to 
be  a  Welchman,  or  of  Welch  extract,  the  consideration  of  his 
case  was  postponed.  James  Galespy  came  from  the  North 
of  Ireland.  He  was  a  Dian  of  energy  and  enterprise.  In 
connexion  with  General  Christopher  Gadsden,  of  Charles- 
town,  he  was  engaged  in  boating  on  the  Pedee  many  years 
before  the  Revolution,  and  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first 
person  who  ever  brought  a  boat  to  Cheraw.  The  difficulty 
with  the  Welch  doubtless  led  to  his  removal  higher  up  the 
river,  to  the  neighbourhood  of  the  present  town  of  Cheraw. 
He  settled  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  a  short  distance 
below  the  town,  and  entered  on  a  successful  career  as  a 
trader.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Francis  Young.  James 
Galespy  died  before  the  Revolution.  He  left  two  sons  to 
inherit  his  name,'^  and  two  daughters. 

The  Welch  did  not  extend  their  settlements  much,  if  any, 
above  the  mouth  of  Crooked  Creek,  or  the  upper  limits  of 
the  Welch  Neck.  Of  those  who  were  induced  to  enter 
upon  the  Welch  Tract  was  Thomas  Elerby,  the  first  of  that 
name  who  emigrated  to  the  Pedce.  He  came  soon  after 
the  first  of  the  Welch,  as  appears  from  the  following  record 
of  Council  :i—"  July  5th,  1742.  Read  the  Petition  of 
Thomas  Elerby,  setting  forth  that  he  and  his  family,  con- 
sisting of  eleven  persons,  came  from  Virginia  about  five 
years  past,  and  settled  and  cleared  land  near  Pedee  river, 
and  obtained  a  warrant  for  his  family  right ;  but  happened 
to  be  within  the  limits  of  the  Welch  Tract,  and  at  a  conve- 
nient place  to  fix  a  water-mill.      When  the  Welch  inhabi- 

*  The  name  was  soon  after  changed  to  its  present  speUing,  Gillespie.  The 
sons  of  James  Galespy  were  Francis  and  James.  The  former  died  before  the 
Revolution.  James  was  born  in  1754,  and  was  therefore  of  age  when  that 
stormy  period  commenced.  He  took  an  active  part  on  the  Pedee  throughout 
the  struggle,  and  was  prominently  connected  with  St.  David's  Parish.  He 
settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  on  lands  now  owned  by  his  son,  General 
James  Gillespie,  of  Marlborough.  He  married  a  Miss  Wild,  aunt  of  the  late 
Judge  Samuel  Wild,  of  Darlington.  The  fruits  of  this  marriage  were  Francis, 
Samuel,  and  James,  and  two  daughters — Sarah  and  Mary. 

James  Galespy,  senior,  had  also  two  daughters.  Of  these,  one  married  John 
Wtrstfield,  one  of  the  early  emigrants  from  Virginia  to  Pedee.  He  lived  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river  above  Cheraw.  John  Westfield,  with  his  wife,  subsequently 
returned  to  Virginia  and  died  there.  Westfield  Creek,  in  Chesterfield  District, 
took  its  name  from  him.  Obedience,  the  other  daughter,  married  Thomas 
Elerby,  from  whom  a  numerous  progeny  sprung. 

f  "  Council  Journal,"  No.  8,  p.  97. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  63 

tants  came  to  settle,  above  four  years  past,  one  Daniel 
James  persuaded  the  Petitioner  to  remove  peaeeably  from 
that  place  by  tlie  run  of  water,  and  gaA'e  the  Petitioner  and 
his  family  liberty  to  settle  and  cultivate  any  other  vacant 
land  which  he  should  find  within  the  limits  of  the  Welch 
Ti'act;  and  did  also  himself  get  a  special  warrant  for  250 
acres  of  land,  Avhich  is  run  out  for  the  Petitioner  and 
returned :  whereupon  he  begs  for  a  grant  for  the  same, 
having  lived  ever  since  thereon,  and  now  wants  more  land 
in  the  same,  or  adjoining  thereto,  to  cultivate  and  settle,  his 
family  being  increased  to  20  and  2  persons,  he  having  six 
persons  lately  purchased  or  born,  for  which,  as  yet,  he  has 
had  no  warrant.  He  therefore  prays  for  a  warrant  of 
sun'^ey  for  laying  out  300  acres  of  vacant  land,  and  a  special 
Avarrant  of  survey  for  running  out  550  acres  of  vacant  land 
more,  within  the  limits  of  the  said  Welch  Ti-act,  in  the  lieu 
of  his  common  warrant.  Resolved  :  that  the  consideration 
of  the  said  Petition  be  deferred  until  the  Petitioner  appear 
personally  before  the  Board.-"  Mr.  Elerby  was  doubtless 
successful  in  the  end,  as  he  remained  in  that  neighborhood 
and  became  the  owner  of  extensive  landed  possessions,  a 
large  portion  of  which  has  remained  in  the  family  to  the 
present  day.^  John  Elerby,  a  brother  of  Thomas,  came 
Avith  him  to  Pedee,  and  settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 
He  either  returned  to  Virginia  or  removed  elsewhere  at  an 
early  period.  Thomas  Elerby  brought  a  good  property  with 
him,  and  was  probably  the  first  slaveholder  on  the  Upper 
Pedee.  Some  years  prior  to  the  Revolution  he  had  a  large 
number — at  least  for  that  day.  This  family  emigrated  from 
England  to  Virginia. 

The  name  is  still  known  in  England,  and  is  spelt  as  it 
appears  in  our  early  records. 

Not  long  afterwards,  however,  as  was  often  the  case,  it 
was  changed  to  its  present  form,  Ellerbe.f     Thomas  Elerby, 


*  The  mill  site  referred  to  in  the  petition  of  Tbos.  Elerby,  was  doubtless  that 
on  Juniper  Creek,  of  which  some  signs  yet  remain  near  the  road  leading  from 
Cheraw  to  Society  Hill. 

A  grist  and  saw  niill^  at  all  events,  were  there,  and  in  successful  operation 
some  time  before  the  Revolution. 

t  This  change,  it  is  said,  took  place  soon  after  Thos.  Elerby's  death,  while 
bis  two  sons  were  yet  young,  and  was  made  by  their  teacher,  the  name  not 
having  yet  become  familiar. 


64  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

who  married,  as  already  stated,  Obedience  Gillespie,  had  two 
sons,  Thomas  and  William,  from  whom  the  extensive  family 
connexion  on  the  Pedee  have  descended.*  Of  the  Evans,* 
who  were  among  the  Welch  settlers,  a  branch  of  the  family 
went  first,  or  soon  after  their  arrival  removed,  to  what  is 
now  Marion  District.  From  Thomas  and  Samuel  Evans, 
who  were  members  of  the  Welch  colony,  the  extensive  con- 
nexion in  Darlington  and  Chesterfield  Districts  descended. 

With  the  main  body  of  the  Welch,  or  soon  after  came 
John  Brown.  He  was  born  near  Burlington,  New  Jersey, 
and  brought  up  at  Frankfort,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Phila- 
delphia. Mr,  Brown  was  ordained  May  7th,  1750,  and 
succeeded  the  Rev.  Philip  James  in  the  charge  of  the  Welch 
Neck  Church,  but  did  not  continue  long  in  that  position. 
After  this  he  continued  to  preach  the  gospel  in  diiferent 
places  until  his  death. 

It  is  supposed  that  he  was  its  founder,  and  gave  name 
to  the  old  Brownsville  community,  twenty  miles  lower 
down  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 

About  the  years  1738-39,  Robert  Williams,  then  a  young 
man,  emigrated  to  Pedee.  He  was  born  at  Northamj)ton, 
North  Carolina,  in  1717.  Mr.  Williams  settled  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river,  opposite  the  lower  part  of  the  Welch 
Neck,  and  became,  eventually,  the  owner  of  a  large  landed 


*  The  widow  of  Thomas  Elerby  married  Charles  Bedingfield  (called  Benny- 
field  by  the  old  people),  a  man  of  some  note,  but  of  unprincipled  character. 
Wliile  his  stepsons,  William  and  Thomas  Ellerbe,  were  yet  young,  he  ran  off 
with  all  the  moveable  property  to  Georgia,  the  West  of  that  period,  leaving  tliem 
only  the  landed  estate  of  their  father  with  which  to  make  their  way  in  the 
world.  This  was  before  the  Revolution,  and  the  name  of  Bedingfield  was  not 
known  in  this  region  afterwards. 

The  children  of  William  Elerby  were — Esther,  who  married  Erasmus  Powe  ; 
William  F.,  who  married  Miss  Ann  Robinson  (this  lady  subsequently  married 
Clement  Prince) ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Joseph  Ellerbe ;  Martha  E.,  who 
married  Thomas  Powe ;  Zachariah,  who  married  Obedience  Ellerbe ;  and  Thomas 
F.,  who  married  Rebecca  Ellerbe. 

The  children  of  Thomas  Ellerbe  were — William  E.,  who  married  a  Miss 
Crawford ;  James,  who  also  married  a  Miss  Crawford ;  Thomas,  who  married 
Miss  Leslie  Prince ;  Jane,  who  married  George  Strother ;  Josepli,  who  married 
Elizabeth  Ellerbe;  Mary,  who  married  Alexander  McQueen;  Rebecca,  who 
married  John  M'Farland;  and  John  Ellerbe,  who  married  Martha  Powe,  and 
afterwards  Mary,  her  sister.  Of  these  large  families  there  is  now  not  one 
survivor. 

William  and  Thomas  Ellerbe  were  prominently  connected  with  St.  David's 
Parish,  and  worthy  Whigs  in  the  Revolution. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CllEUAWS.  65 

estate  in  tliis  iieiglibourliood,  most  of  which  has  remained 
in  the  family  since. 

In  1752,  he  was  ordained  at  the  Welch  Neck,  and  be- 
came the  pastor  of  that  Church,  retaining  the  position, 
however,  but  a  short  time  afterwards,  llobert  Williams 
had  two  children — a  daughter,  who  married  Arthur  Hart, 
and  afterwards,  JNloses  ]\Iurfee ;  and  a  son,  David  Wil- 
liams. The  latter  was  born  on  Pcdee,  February  1st,  1739, 
received  his  education  in  Charles-town,  and  after  a  brief  but 
amiable  and  useful  career,  died  January  1st,  1776.*  He 
married  a  sister  of  Arthur  Hart,  and  the  fruits  of  this 
marriage  were  two  children — a  daughter,  Mary  Ann,t  and 
a  son,  David  Rogerson,  who  subsequently  became  distin- 
guished as  a  member  of  Congress  from  the  Pedee  district, 
and  Governor  of  South  Carolina. 

Robert  Williams  died  April  8tli,  1788,  and  had  the  fol- 
lowing character  given  him  :  "  He  was  kind  to  the  poor, 
and  remarkably  so  to  the  afflicted ;  a  man  of  excellent 
natural  parts,  and  a  minister  who  preached  the  gospel  to 
the  edification  and  comfort  of  souls.'^J 

Another  name  which  appears  among  the  grantees  of 
land  in  the  Welch  Neck,  in  1743,  was  Nicholas  Rogers. 
He  was  one  of  the  Welch  settlers,  and  died  in  1759.  He 
left  a  son,  Benjamin,§  the  father  of  the  late  Colonel  Ben- 
jamin Rogers,  of  Marlborough. 


*  Tlie  Kev.  Evan  Pugli  officiated  on  the  occasion  of  David  Williams'  funeral, 
preaching  from  John  xi.  11,  12. 

t  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  David  Williams,  was  born  April  16th,  1772,  and 
married  John  M'Tver.  The  fruits  of  this  marriage  were  four  sons— John  E., 
Alexander,  David  Rogerson  Williams,  and  Thomas ;  and  one  daughter,  Eliza, 
who  married  John  Davis.  IMrs.  M'lver  died  November  18th,  1834,  having 
long  survived  her  husband. 

David  Rogerson  was  born  March  8th,  1776  ;  and  married,  first,  a  Miss  Powers, 
of  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  the  late  Col.  John 
X.  Williams,  of  Society  Hill,  a  man  of  uncommon  purity  and  excellence  of 
character.  His  second  wife  was  Elizabeth  Witherspoon,  who  survived  him 
many  years.     She  was  a  lady  of  remarkable  traits,  and  universally  .beloved. 

Cieneral  Williams,  as  he  was  afterwards  known,  was  possessed  of  superior 
talents  and  extraordinary  energy  of  character.  After  an  active  and  useful  life, 
both  as  a  private  citizen  and  public  man,  he  came  to  his  end  November  l7th, 
1830,  by  the  falling  in  of  a  bridge  which  he  had  had  erected  over  Lynche's 
Creek,  on  the  George-town  road. 

X  From  a  funeral  discourse  by  Mr.  Pugh,  who  jierformed  the  last  rites  for 
the  father  as  lie  had  done  for  the  son. 

§  Buiijanun  Rogers  lived  on  tiie  hill  below  Juniper,  on  what  has  since  been 


QS  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Allusion  has  been  made  to  the  course  pursued  by  the 
Welch,  with  reference  to  others  coming  in  among  them. 
The  feeling  was  a  natural  one,  and  under  the  circumstances, 
in  such  a  chaotic  state  of  society,  when  people  of  different 
nations,  and  many  of  them  doubtless  of  bad  character, 
were  flocking  in  as  squatters  and  traders,  not  to  be  con- 
demned. The  subsequent  history  of  their  colony,  strongly 
and  peculiarly  marked  as  it  was  in  all  the  elements  of 
substantial  growth  and  virtuous  progress,  will  be  found  to 
have  fully  justified  their  exclusive  policy.  They  planted 
themselves,  in  most  instances,  immediately  on  the  river, 
and  made  locations  of  lands  in  small  parcels. 

The  country  being  in  a  wilderness  state,  their  position 
isolated,  and  their  means  limited,  they  selected  such  quan- 
tities of  land  as  suited  their  present  necessities,  influenced 
also,  to  some  extent,  by  the  consideration  of  compactness, 
which  gratified  their  social  propensities,  and  enabled  them 
besides  to  concentrate  against  the  sudden  incursions  of  the 
Indians,  by  whom  they  were  surrounded.  Here,  on  a  virgin 
soil,  they  peacefully  pursued  their  agricultural  employ- 
ments, being  richly  rewarded  for  the  common  toils  and 
hardships  endured. 

In  their  new  and  yet  wilderness  home,  drawn  together 
more  closely  than  by  the  common  ties  of  friendship  and  of 
blood,  surrounded  by  common  dangers,  against  which  they 
vigilantly  guarded,  with  common  wants  and  necessities  suf- 
ficiently supplied,  and  meeting  weekly  around  one  conse- 
crated altar  to  worship  the  God  of  their  fathers,  a  more 
perfect  unity,  or  virtuous  and  manly  life  can  scarcely  be 
conceived. 

Such  was  the  scene  presented  by  this  infant  band  of 
brothers  in  the  early  days  of  their   history  ;  with  no  court 


the  main  road  leading  from  Clieraw  to  Long  Klnff.  He  was  a  man  of  much 
excellence,  and  highly  esteemed — an  ardent  Wiiig,  hut  too  old  to  take  an 
active  part  in  the  Revolution.  His  name  appears  among  the  early  records  of 
St.  David's  parish.  His  son,  the  late  Colonel  Benjamin  Rogers  of  Marlborough, 
was  yet  a  mere  youth  in  the  Revolution  ;  hut  yielding  to  the  impulses  of  his 
nature,  and  contrary  to  the  more  prudent  counsels  of  his  father,  drew  his 
sword  on  more  than  one  occasion  in  the  cause  of  liberty. 

The  sons  of  Col.  Rogers  are  among  the  worthy  and  most  respectable  citizens 
of  Marlborough  and  Darlington  districts. 


I 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS.  67 

of  justice  in  their  midst  to  ■svliicli  conflicting  claims  and 
angry  disputes  might  he  referred^  and  no  frowning  gaol  for 
the  reception  of  the  criminal.  Nor  were  they  needed. 
Few  contentions,  prohably,  were  known,  and  the  voice  of 
society,  though  newly  formed  in  this  southern  home,  was 
potent  enough  to  silence  the  voice  of  the  blasphemer  and 
make  the  evil-minded  man  pause  in  his  ways. 

Simplicity  of  character  appears  to  have  been  one  of  the 
most  marked  traits  of  this  jjeople — a  virtue  which  has  been 
transmitted,  through  succeeding  times,  to  their  descendants. 
They  were  open  and  sincere,  making  no  profession  of  feel- 
ing which  did  not  exist. 

For  sobriety  and  moderation,  also,  with  what  was  more 
essential  as  the  foundation  of  all  virtue,  a  deep  religious 
feeling,  they  were  distinguished.  These  virtues  Avere  strongly 
impressed  upon  the  community  they  established,  presenting 
in  subsequent  times  a  striking  contrast  to  some  other 
neighbourhoods  on  the  Pedee,  where  dissipation  and  irre- 
ligion  so  much  prevailed.  The  Welch  brought  with  them 
to  a  new  country  those  marked  features  for  which  their 
ancestors  had  been  noted  long  before.  The  Welch  are 
said  to  have  been  more  jealous  of  their  liberties  than  even 
the  English,  and  far  more  irascible,  though  their  jealousy 
soon  abated.  They  were,  from  an  early  period,  fond  of  car- 
rying back  their  pedigrees  to  the  most  remote  antiquity, 
and  some  of  their  manuscripts  they  make  to  be  coeval  with 
the  Incarnation.* 

But  few  relicst  remain  among  the  descendants  of  the 
early  Welch  settlers  on  the  Pedee. 

Intermingled,  as  they  subsequently  became  with  other 
races,  their  national  peculiarities,  except  in  a  few  instances 
of  striking  constitutional  descent,  gradually  disappeared. 

And  of  their  names,  as  connected  with  the  localities  they 
inhabited,  but  a  memorial  is  here  and  there  left  to  tell  of 
the  first  cultivators  of  the  soil. 


*  Guthrie,  p.  39. 
f  There  is  now,  in  the  possession  of  a  family  descended  from  the  Welch,  and 
living  in  the  neighbourhood  of  their  first  settlement,  a  Welch  Bible,  of  the 
eililioii  of  1G76,  whirh  is  supposed  to  h:ive  belonged  to  the  leader  of  the  colony, 
as  it  contains  a  record  of  the  births,  marri;iges,  and  deaths  of  the  James 
family. 

f2 


68  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHEEAWS. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Settlements  lower  down  on  the  river — One  of  the  first  comers — His  family — 
History  of  the  colony  in  Britton's  Neck — The  families  composing  it — Their 
history — The  church  building — Its  subsequent  history — The  settlement  at 
Sandy  Bluff — The  locality — Their  church  building — Accounts  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  community  and  their  descendants — Incidents  connected  with 
difterent  individuals — Irish  Protestants — Who  they  were — Irish-town — 
Its  locality— Other  settlers  in  this  region — Then-  history — Close  of  this 
period. 

About  the  time  of  the  Welch  emigration  to  Pedee,  settle- 
ments were  made  lower  down  the  river  in  what  was  after- 
ward Liberty  Precinct,  now  Marion  District.  John  God- 
hold  was  among  the  first  who  came  to  this  region. 

He  was  an  Englishman,  and  had  been  long  a  sailor  in  the 
British  service.  Though  advanced  in  years  at  the  time  of 
liis  arrival,  such  was  his  enterprising  energy,  that  he  suc- 
ceeded in  accumulating  what,  for  that  day,  was  a  large 
property. 

He  settled  in  1735  about  a  half  mile  below  the  site  of 
the  present  village  of  Marion,  being  the  first  adventurer  to 
that  immediate  locality. 

The  most  profitable  business  at  that  time  was  stock 
raising,  Charles-town^  affording  a  good  market  for  all  the 
industrious  settlers  could  carry  thither.  During  the  French 
and  Indian  wars,  Mr.  Godbold  was  plundered  of  almost  all 
the  personal  property  he  had  gathered.  Of  thirty  negroes, 
twenty-two  were  taken  from  him  and  never  recovered.  A 
trunk  of  guineas,  the  fruits  of  many  years'  labour^  was 
rifled. 

He  married,  after  his  arrival  on  Pedee,  Elizabeth  M'Gur- 
ney,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons — John,  James,  and  Thomas  ; 
and  two  daughters — Elizabeth  and  Anne  ;  from  whom  the 
extensive  connexion  in  Marion  have  descended. t 


*  Many  of  the  early  settlers  drove  their  stock  as  far  as  Philadelphia, 
-j-  Of  his  sons,  John,  the  eldest,  married  Priscilla  Jones,  and  had  three  sons 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  69 

John  Goclbold  was  a  member  of  the  Church  of  Enghand, 
and  died  in  1765,  at  the  advanced  age  of  more  than  one 
hundred  years,  in  the  faith  of  his  fathers.  About  the  time 
John  Godbohl  came  to  Pedee,  two  important  settlemeats 
were  made  in  tliat  region.  One  of  these  was  in  Brittou's 
Neck,  twenty  miles  below  Mars  Blufir,"^  and  forty  miles  above 
George-town. 

It  was  composed  of  the  families  of  Britton,  Graves, 
Fladger,  Davis,  Tyler,  Giles,  and  others.  They  came 
directly  from  England,  as  one  colony;  and  being  members 
of  the  Established  Church,  oup  of  their  first  acts  was  to 
erect  a  housef  for  the  worship  of  God.  Their  minister, 
Dr.  Robert  Hunter,  came  with  them,  and  is  supposed  to 
have  died  there.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Allison. 


— Z  ichariali,  John,  and  Jesse.  Of  these,  Zucliariah  was  a  captain  in  the  Revo- 
lution. 

James,  the  second  son,  married  Mourning  Elizabeth  Baker,  by  whom  he  had 
six  sons — John,  James,  Zachariah,  Cade,  Abram,  and  Thomas.  Of  these,  John 
and  Zachariah  were  lieutenants  in  the  Revolution.  Thomas,  the  youngest  son, 
was  the  father  of  the  late  Hugh  Godbold,*  of  Marion. 

Thomas,  the  third  son,  married  Martha  Herron,  and  had  four  sons — Stephen, 
David,  Thomas,  and  Ely.  Of  these,  Thomas  was  the  father  of  Asa  Godbold,  of 
Marion,  and  Ely,  who  left  a  son  bearing  his  name. 

*  Mars  Bluff  took  its  name  from  an  early  settler,  Maers  (pronounced  Mars). 
He  lefl  at  an  early  period,  and  the  name,  except  as  marked  by  that  locality, 
disappeared  with  him. 

t  This  building  was  of  black  cypress,  with  a  brick  foundation,  and  is  still  to 
be  seen,  or  was  a  few  years  since,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  on  the  road 
leading  from  Port's  Ferry  to  Potatoe  Ferry,  on  Little  Pedee.  About  the  year 
1780,  the  congregation  having  been  long  without  a  minister,  and  doubtless  very 
much  broken  up  by  the  troublous  times  of  the  Revolution,  united  with  the 
Methodists,  and  the  building  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  lattei-,  by  whom  it 
has  since  beeu  retained.     Charles  Wesley  is  said  to  have  once  preached  in  it. 

*  To  this  gentleman,  the  late  Hugh  Godbold,  the  author  was  indebted  for  a 
large  and  valuable  fund  of  information  as  to  the  early  settlements  on  the  Pedee 
and  their  subsequent  history.  To  a  memory  of  extraordinary  tenacity  (in 
genealogical  details  unequalled  by  any  with  which  the  author  has  ever  met)  was 
added  a  remarkable  precision,  and  tender  regard  for  truth,  which  gave  his 
statements  high  authority,  and  made  him  always  a  witness  of  importance  in 
coui'ts  of  justice.  He  had,  from  early  life,  great  fondness  for  everything  con- 
nected with  the  local  history  of  the  region  of  his  nativity,  and  having  had  inter- 
course with  many  of  the  old  people  of  the  second  generation  of  those  who  first 
came  to  the  Pedee,  he  collected  a  large  fund  of  interesting  matter,  none  of 
which  seems  ever  to  have  escaped  him.  A  man  of  general  intelligence  and 
sterling  traits  of  character,  his  real  worth  was  appreciated  by  few  of  his  con- 
temporaries.    He  died  in  1859.     Peace  to  his  ashes. 


70  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

The  name  of  one  of  these  families  subsequently  became 
distinguished  in  the  person  of  Colonel  Hugh  GileSj  who  took  a 
prominent  part  in  this  region  during  the  Revolution.  He 
was  the  son  of  Robert  Giles.  The  other  settlement  referred 
to  was  made  at  a  point  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river^  called 
Sandy  Bluff/'  two  and  a  half  miles  above  Mars  Bluff.  A 
few  traces  of  it  are  yet  to  be  seen  at  several  points^  imme- 
diately on  the  high  bank  of  the  river.  The  families  of 
Crawford,  Saunders,  INIurfee,  Crosby,  Keighly,  Berry,  and 
shortly  after  the  Gibson^s,  made  up  this  community.  Sandy 
Bluff  extended  up  the  river  about  three  miles.  With  the 
fertile  uplands  running  out  for  some  distance,  and  a  rich 
swamp  on  the  opposite  side,  and  supplied,  too,  with  nume- 
rous springs  of  good  water,  this  locality  was  in  many 
respects  admirably  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  infant 
colony. 

The  chief  drawback  was  its  growing  unhealthfulness,  vmtil 
the  long  process  was  passed  through,  of  clearing  the  lands  and 
draining  the  contiguous  bottoms.  These  settlers  built  their 
houses,  as  did  the  Welch  above,  immediately  on  the  river, 
and  in  close  proximity  to  each  other,  for  the  convenience  of 
water,  of  social  intercourse,  and  their  mutual  protection 
against  the  Indian.  It  was  also  more  healthy  than  loca- 
tions further  out  from  the  river,  as  experience  has  proved. 

They  were  from  England  and  Ireland,  and  having  landed 
at  Charles-town,  found  their  way  to  George-town,  and  thence 
up  the  river,  attracted  by  the  bounties  which  the  Govern- 
ment had  offered.  Like  their  neighbours  in  Britton's  Neck, 
they  erected  a  building  for  public  worship,  according  to 
the  rites  of  the  Established  Church.  Faint  traces  of  this 
early  structure  were  to  be  seen  a  few  years  since.  The 
bricks  used  for  the  foundation  were  brought  up  the  river  in 
boats  (the  settlers  thus  transporting  themselves  and  their 
stores),  and  were  of  a  most  superior  quality. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  Turbeville  came  with  this  colony,  and 
was  their  pastor.  He  was  a  well-educated  man,  and  had  a 
high  reputation  as  a  preacher. 


*  The  Wilmington  and  Manchester  R.  R.  crosses  immediately  below  this 
point. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEKAWS.  71 

Emiuent  also  for  piety  and  dcvotiou  to  his  Avork,  lie 
retained  tlie  coufideucc  aud  affeetiou  of  the  people  in  an  ex- 
tensive region  of  the  country,  to  the  elose  of  a  long  life. 
One  of  the  incidents  related  in  connexion  with  him^  is  sin- 
gularly illustrative  of  this  feeling.  Such  Avas  the  general 
confidence  in  his  piety  and  the  efficacy  of  his  prayers,  that 
he  was  sent  for  from  considerable  distances,  during  the 
pressure  of  any  general  calamity,  to  make  intercession  to 
God  in  behalf  of  the  people.  On  one  occasion,  about  the 
year  1760,  during  the  prevalence  of  a  fearful  drought,,  there 
was  a  general  meeting  at  Basses  INIills  to  pray  for  rain.  Mr. 
Turbeville  was  sent  for.  He  answered  the  summons,  and 
as  tradition  relates,  before  the  sufferers  had  reached  their 
homes,  the  heavens  were  opened  and  copious  rains  came 
down.  Mr.  Turbeville  had  no  children.  Several  brothers 
came  with  him,  of  whom  some  descendants  are  now  to  be 
found  in  Marion. 

He  lived  at  Sandy  Bluff  until  after  the  year  1 800,  then 
removed  to  the  west  side  of  the  river,  near  JNIars  Bluff, 
where  he  married  a  second  time,  and  died  about  1810,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  one  hundred  and  three  years.* 

Of  the  settlers  at  Sandy  Bluff,  the  Murfees,  Saunders, 
Gibsons,  and  Crawfords  accumulated  the  largest  properties, 
and  became  most  prominent.  John  Crawford,  the  first  of 
that  name,  had  three  sons — James,  John,  and  Hardy. 

James,  the  eldest  of  them,  amassed  a  large  fortune  for 
that  day,  and  maintained  through  life  a  high  character  for 
integrity.  He  was  a  captain  in  the  Revolution,  and  a 
valiant  soldier  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  f 

Of  the  Murfees  J  there  were  four  brothers,  Moses,  Malachi, 
Maurice,  and  Michael. 


*  Mr.  Turbeville  was  a  poor  man  through  life.  It  is  said  that  Wm. 
Allston,  grandfather  of  Gov'.  Allston,  who  lived  at  that  time  near  the 
Warhees  (a  few  miles  below  Mars  Bluff)  complained  to  Mr.  T.  on  one  occasion 
of  his  wearing  such  coarse  garments.  Mr.  T.  told  him,  he  got  but  little  for 
preaching,  and  could  not  afford  to  dress  better. 

■\Vhereupon,  ilr.  Allston  gave  him  a  black  suit  and  silk  gown,  on  condition 
that  he  was  not  to  use  them  except  in  preaching,  and  on  other  public  official 
occasions. 

t  He  was  the  grandfather  of  the  late  Chapman  Crawford,  of  Marion. 

X  Thus  the  name  appears  in  the  tirst  records.  It  was  afterwards  changed 
to  its  present  spelling,  Murphy. 


i  Z  HISTORY   OF   THE    OLD   CHE  RAWS. 

Of  these,  Malaclii"^  became  the  wealthiest.  He  is  said  to 
have  given  one  hundred  slaves  to  each  of  three  sons.  He 
died  before  the  Revolution. 

Maurice  had  a  son^,  bearing  his  name,  who  was  destined 
to  occupy  a  prominent  place  in  the  subsequent  history  of 
the  Pedee. 

Some  notice  of  Michael  Murfee  appears  in  the  records  of 
Council: — ''At  a  Meeting,  13th  Ap^,  1744,  was  read  the 
Petition  of  Michael  Murfee,  an  Inhabitant  of  the  Welch 
Tract,  shewing  that  about  nine  years  ago^  before  the  settling 
of  the  Welch,  he  purchased  part  of  a  Warrant  of  one 
Howard,  since  dead,  for  300  acres  of  land  in  the  Welch 
Tract ;  but  the  said  W^ arrant  for  running  out  the  same  being 
afterwards  lost  or  mislaid,  never  was  returned  into  the 
Office  ;  notwithstanding  which,  he  built  a  house  on  the  same, 
settled  there,  and  made  other  considerable  improvements, 
and  cleared  above  400  acres  thereof,  and  is  well  liked  as  a 
neighbour  by  all  the  Welch  Famylies  there.  That  the 
Petitioner,  having  since  a  considerable  increase  of  fourteen 
persons  in  his  family,  for  whom  he  has  not  as  yet  obtained 
any  land,  nor  hath  he  any  other  land  than  as  above  said 
within  the  said  Province,  Prays  a  warrant  of  survey  for 
seven  hundred  acres  in  a  Tract  or  Tracts  of  vacant  land,  and 
then    the  said  Tract  of  land    whereupon  the   Petitioner  is 


*  His  sons  were  James,  Malachi,  and  Moses.  James,  the  eldest,  died 
young,  leaving  tliree  daughters, — Hannah,  who  married  Moses  Saunders,  of 
Darlington ;  Catharine^  who  married  Nicholas  Bedgegood,  and  afterwards 
J.  B.  Billingsby  of  Marlboro';  and  Mary,  who  married  Jordan  Saunders. 
Malachi,  the  second  son,  married  first  a  Miss  Knight,  by  whom  he  had  two 
sous, — and  afterward,  Mary  Hicks.  The  fruits  of  this  marriage  were — 
Nathanael,  Maurice,  James,  Elizabeth,  and  Sally.  Elizabeth  married  a  Rawls, 
and  Sally  married  Wm.  Johnson,  of  Sneedsboro,  No.  Ca.  Malachi  Murphy 
was  a  captain  in  the  Revolution,  and  was  killed  at  Bass's  Mill.  Moses,  the 
third  son,  married  a  daughter  of  Robert  Williams. 

Of  the  daughters  of  Malachi  Murfee,  sen.,  Elizabeth  married  Wm.  Pegnes, 
of  Chesterfield ;  another  married  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Bedgegood,  one  of  the 
early  pastors  of  the  Welch  Neck  Church ;  and  Marcia  married  Claudius 
Pegn(is,  of  Marlborough. 

Malachi  Murfee,  sen.,  married  the  widow  of  George  Saunders.  She  was  a 
sister  of  Gideon  Gibson. 

A  female  descendant,  living  a  few  years  since  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
original  settlement,  was  the  only  representative  left  in  that  region, — such  are 
the  sad  changes  which  time  brings  with  it,  causing  the  name  of  the  most 
extensive  family  coimexion,  in  a  few  generations,  to  pass  entirely  away,  leaving 
scarce  the  memory  of  their  former  existence  behind  them. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  73 

settled  as  above^  or  so  mucli  thereof  as  shall  appear,  upon  a 
re-survey,  to  be  vacant,  to  be  part  of  the  same,  wliieh  land 
is  butting  on  or  near  Col.  Pawley^s  land,  and  to  the  west  of 
John  Brown^s. 

"  The  Petitioner  appearing  in  person,  and  swearing  to 
the  allegations  of  his  said  Petition,  It  was  ordered, 
that  500  acres  of  land  only  be  granted  him,  and  the 
Secretary  was  accordingly  ordered  to  prepare  a  warrant  for 
the  same/' 

The  statement  in  the  foregoing  petition  indicates  a  rapid 
increase  of  slave  property  for  that  early  period.  John, 
George,  and  William  Saunders  appear  to  have  been  the  first 
of  that  name.  In  a  list  of  grants  in  the  Surveyor- General's 
Office  (as  to  which  notice  was  given  to  the  parties  to  apply 
for  and  take  out  their  plots),  appear  the  names  of  George 
Saunders  for  300  acres.  May  24th,  1735  ;  and  John  Saunders 
for  200  acres,  INIay  12,  1736.  They  came  from  England. 
John  Saunders  had  two  sons,  George  and  Thomas.  George^ 
was  the  father  of  Nathanael  Saunders,  who  became  a  man 
of  some  note,  and  was  the  father  of  the  late  Moses  and 
Jordan  Saunders,  of  Darlington.  The  sons  of  Thomas 
Saunders  removed  at  an  early  period  to  Tennessee. 

Of  the  Gibsons,  Gideon  and  Jordan  were  brothers.  The 
latter  went  to  the  West  as  a  companion  of  Daniel  Boone. 
Gideon  Gibsonf  came  with  his  father  from  Virginia  to 
Pedee.  There  is  a  public  record  of  a  grant  to  him  for  550 
acres  of  land  as  early  as  April,  1736.  He  settled  at  a  place 
called  Hickory  Grove,  five  miles  from  Sandy  BluflF,  on  a 
large  and  fertile  body  of  land,  long  after  noted  as  the  most 
valuable  in  that  region. 


*  George  Saunders  came  to  an  untimely  end,  in  connexion  with  which  a 
singular  incident  is  related.  He  was  engaged  on  a  Sunday  in  cutting  down  a 
bee  tree,  a  cypress,  in  the  swamp  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  As  the 
cypress  fell,  the  limb  of  an  ash  wag  brolien  otf,  and  being  thrown  with  violence 
on  the  head  of  Saunders,  killed  him  instantly.  An  ash  afterwards  came  up  at 
the  head  of  his  grave  and  grew  to  a  large  tree,  being  regarded  by  the  people  as 
a  standing  monument  of  the  judgment  sent  upon  him  for  the  violation  of  the 
Lord's  Day,  which  led  to  his  end. 

It  is  but  a  few  years  since  that  the  last  vestige  of  this  famous  ash  was  to  be 
seen.  Near  the  spot  are  faint  traces  of  the  burial  ground  of  the  Sandy  Bluff 
Settlement. 

f  lie  was  the  grand-uncle  of  the  late  Captain  John  Gibson,  of  Darlington. 


71  HISTOEY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

He  had  three  sons.  Of  these,  Stephen*  became  wealthy, 
and  removed  to  Georgia  about  the  year  1800.  Roger, 
another  son,  removed  to  the  West  before  the  Revolution. 
Gideon  Gibson  was  a  man  of  very  marked  character,  of 
commanding  influence,  and  prominently  connected  with  the 
leading  events  of  the  region  in  which  he  lived.  His  death 
took  place  during  the  Revolution.  Of  the  circumstances 
attending  it  some  account  will  be  given  hereafter. 

The  settlement  at  Sandy  Bluff  was  broken  up  at  an  early 
period,  though  some  traces  of  it  are  yet  to  be  seen.f 

The  following  extract  from  the  Council  Journal  of 
January  26th,  1737,  is  supposed  to  have  related  to  a  com- 
pany of  settlers  on  the  west  side  of  the  river : — 

"  Read  the  Petition  of  several  poor  Irish  Protestants,  lately 
come  in,  setting  forth  that  they  had  transported  themselves 
and  families  into  this  Province,  being  induced  thereto  by 
the  encouragement  of  having  lands  granted  to  them  in 
Town-ships,  w  hich  his  Majesty  has  been  graciously  pleased  to 
order  to  poor  Protestants,  importing  themselves  into  this 
Province,  and  likewise  the  bounty  of  provisions,  and  there- 
fore j)raying  warrants  of  survey  for  the  lands  on  either  side 
of  the  Town-ships  on  Pedee  River,  and  provisions,  &c.,  ac- 
cording to  the  number  of  their  families,  as  has  been  usually 
given  to  other  poor  Protestants.  Recommended  the  same 
to  the  Commons  House  of  Assembly.^'' J 

The  townships  referred  to  here  as  being  on  the  Pedee, 
were  doubtless  Queensborough  and  Kingston,  the  latter 
being  on  the  Waccamaw.  Who  the  petitioners  were  is  not 
known.  A  notice  of  the  first  advertisement  for  the  sale  of 
lands  in  this  region  may  throw  some  light  on  the  locality 
of  these  poor  Irish  Protestants.  This  notice  appeared  in 
the  Gazette  of  June  1,  1738,  in  these  words  :  '"'To  be  sold. 


*  The  Hon.  Thomas  Butler  King,  formerly  of  Georgia,  married  a  daughter 
of  Stephen  Gihson. 

t  The  author  visited  this  interesting  locality  in  company  with  the  late  Hugh 
Godbold,  who  took  great  pleasure  in  pointing  out  different  points  of  interest. 
The  visit  \vas  hurried  and  no  careful  examination  made. 

A   more  thorough   exploration,  particularly  about  the  site  of  the  old  church, 
would   doubtless  bring   some  interesting  relics  to  light.     Mr.  Godbold  had  au 
antiquarian  taste,  and  an  appreciation  of  the  past  which  is  seldom  met  with. 
X  "  Council  Journal,"  No.  7,  p.  37. 


IIISTOEY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  <0 

a  Tract  of  land,  of  100  acres ;  excellent  good  Land,  fronting 
upon  Pedce  River,  and  back  on  Jeffrey's  Creek ;  also,  one 
Tract  of  500  acres,  in  Irish-town/''  Of  the  locality  of  Irish- 
town,  we  are  left  to  conjectnrc.  It  was  probably  on 
Jeffrey^s  Creek,  and  its  inhabitants  the  Irish  Protestants 
referred  to. 

A  few  other  names  appear  in  the  records  of  this  region. 
As  early  as  1735,  Walter  and  Ralijh  Izard  settled  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  not  far  below  Mars  Bluff.  They 
removed  lower  down  a  few  years  after.  About  the  same 
time  (1735),  a  family  of  Jamesons  made  a  settlement  at 
Little  Bluff,  in  what  is  now  Marion  district. 

In  that,  or  the  subsequent  year,  land  was  granted  to  a 
Colonel  Jameson. 

Nathan  Evans*  was  a  Welchman,  and  settled  on  Cat 
Fish.  He  either  came  from  the  Welch  Neck  above,  soon 
after  his  arrival  there,  or  was  one  of  those  who  went  first 
to  the  lower  part  of  the  Welch  Tract,  and  remained  there. 
Lands  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Tart's  Millf  were  granted  to 
Nathan  Evans. 

David  Evans,  a  son  of  Nathan,  was  a  captain  in  the 
Revolution,  and  a  man  of  note.  He  died  childless.  About 
the  same  time,  two  families  of  James'  and  Lucas^  came 
down  the  river,  and  settled  on  Cat  Fish.  With  the  latter  of 
these,  the  Crawfords  and  Evans'  intermarried. 

Soon  after,  a  family  of  Baker's  came  from  Newbern, 
N.C.,  to  Pedee.  One  of  this  name  married  a  daughter  of 
Nathan  Evans.  William  Baker  was  prominent  in  the 
Revolution,  and  marked  for  his  devotion  to  the  cause  of 
liberty. 

The  first  settlements  on  Little  Pedee  were  made  a  few 
years  later  (about  1740)  by  emigrants  from  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina — a  lower  class  of  people,  many  of  whom 
became  noted  for  their  opposition  to  the  cause  of  their 
country  during  its  subsequent  history. 

The   name  of  Buckholdt,  known  among  the  earliest  set- 


*  Xatlian  Evans  was  the  graiidfatlier  of  the  late  Thomas  Evans,  and  Gene- 
ral Wm.  Evans,  of  ilarion.  The  father  of  General  Evans  was  also  named 
Nathan,  and  was  a  man  of  upright  character  througli  life. 

f  Tart's  Mill  is  about  six  miles  above  Marion,  C.H. 


76  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

tiers,  afterwards  became  prominent.  Of  this  family  were 
Abraham,  Jacob,  and  Peter.  They  settled  on  Cat  Fish  and 
in  Cashway  Neck.  Major  Abraham  Buckholdt  attained  some 
distinction.  This  family  were  from  Prussia.  They  w^ere 
men  of  enterprise,  but  of  a  roving  disposition,  and  left  the 
Pedee  at  an  early  period.* 

Thus  closed  the  history  of  the  first  settlements  on  the 
Pedee.  They  were  made  between  the  years  1734  and  1740, 
the  Welch  element  greatly  preponderating.  The  river 
afforded  facilities  for  transportation,  of  which  advantage 
was  taken.  Stock  raising  was  the  most  profitable  business, 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  fortunes,  which  rapidly  in- 
creased. The  Indian  gradually  retreated;  Providence 
favoured  the  white  man  with  good  seasons  and  a  fertile 
soil ;  and  the  tide  of  emigration  thus  begun,  continued  to 
flow  in,  until  the  troubles  with  the  moth'er  country,  long 
gathering  before  the  storm,  at  length  burst  upon  the  heads 
of  a  devoted  people,  put  a  temporary  period  to  its  pro- 
gress. 


*  Soon  after  the  Revolution  the  name  disappeared.  About  that  time 
Major  Ruclviioldt  removed  to  Georgia,  and  subsequently  to  Mississippi,  from 
whence  two  of  his  grandsons  found  their  way  to  Texas.  They  are  the  only 
representatives  of  the  name  surviving,  and  are  now  respectable  citizens  of 
Milam  County,  Texas — worthy  descendants  of  a  true  Whig  stock. 

The  only  local  trace  of  the  name  left  in  So.  Ca.  is  in  that  of  a  Creek 
(Buckholdt's),  four  miles  below  the  village  of  Society  Hill  in  Darlington 
district. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


CHAPTER  V. 

History  of  settlements  continued — In  neighbourhood  of  Welch  Neck,  above 
and  below  on  the  river — Petitions  of  settlers — Their  families  and  descen- 
dants— Certificates  of  character  given — Battle  of  Culloden  followed  by  tran- 
sportation of  rebels  to  America,  and  emigrations  to  Pedee — Valuable  addi- 
tions from  this  source — Settlers  from  No.  Ca. — Huguenot  element  coming 
in — Braddock's  defeat  (1V55)  followed  by  emigrations  from  Pennsylvania 
and  Virginia — Other  settlers — Settlements  on  Lyche's  Creek — Later  addi- 
tions— Continued  to  opening  years  of  Revolution,  _ 

The  history  of  the  settlements  on  the  Pedee  has  been 
brought  down  through  what  may  be  termed  its  first  period^ 
viz.,  from  173J<  to  1740.  During  these  years  only  oecurred 
the  emigration  of  such  bodies  of  persons  to  certain  locali- 
ties as  could  properly  be  termed  colonies,  as  of  the  Welch 
above,  and  the  Irish  and  English  lower  down  on  the  river. 
There  were  also,  as  we  have  seen,  individuals  from  different 
regions,  who  constituted  valuable  elements  in  the  infant 
communities.  From  1740  to  1760  large  and  important 
additions  were  made  to  the  settlements,  continuing,  indeed, 
until  the  threatening  difficulties  with  the  Mother  Country 
put  a  stop  for  the  time  to  the  increase  of  population  from 
abroad. 

About  the  year  1740,  came  the  family  of  Lide.  There 
were  three  brothers  of  this  name — John,  Thomas,  and 
Robert.  They  were  of  Welch  origin,  and  came  to  Carolina, 
from  Roanoke,  Virginia.  After  the  emigration  of  this 
family  fi'om  Wales,  the  name  was  Anglicized,  and  assumed 
eventually  its  present  form.  In  Welch  it  was  written 
Llhuyd,*  in  subsequent  records,  Loyd,  which  spelling  was 
found  in  some  branches  of  the  family  down  to  a  compara- 
tively recent  period. 

Of  the  three  brothers  who  came  to  Pedee,  John,  the 
eldest,  left  an  only  son,  William,  the  father  of  John  Wild 
Lide  (who  removed  to  and  died  in  Tennessee),  and  of  the 
late  Mrs.  Rebecca  Punch,  of  Cheraw. 


Mill's  "Statistics  of  S.  C,"  p.  618. 


78  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEEAWS. 

Thomas,  the  second  son,  settled  on  the  river,  at  Cheraw 
Hill.^  He  was  educated  in  the  Church  of  England,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  organization  of  St.  David^s  Parish, 
having  been  a  large  contributor  to  the  building  of  the 
church  and  the  pecuniary  resources  of  the  parish  afterwards. 
He  married  three  times.  By  his  first  wife,  who  was  a 
Miss  Kimbrough,  he  had  an  only  child,  a  daughter,  the 
mother  of  the  late  Governor  John  Lyde  Wilson,  of  So. 
Ca.  By  his  second  wife,  a  Miss  Foster,  he  had  five  sons — 
John,  Thomas,  Charles  Motte,  Robert,  and  James ;  also 
a  daughter. t  Of  these  sons,  Charles  Motte  was  a  man  of 
remarkable  parts.  His  name  will  appear  hereafter.  Col. 
Lide  was  a  man  of  high  character,  and  died  in  1787,  uni- 
versally esteemed. 

Robert,  the  youngest  brother,  was  born  on  Roanoke,  Va. 
in  1734,  and  brought  to  Pedee,  by  a  maternal  uncle,  Craw- 
ford. He  settled  on  the  west  side  of  the  riverj  above,  and 
afterwards  near  Cash  way  Ferry,  §  in  what  is  now  Darlington 
district,  and  became  the  head  of  an  extensive  family  con- 
nexion. He  was  a  prominent  actor  in  the  su.bsequent 
history  of  that  region,  and  took  an  influential  part  among 
the  Whigs  of  Pedee  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  at  one 
time  a  Major  under  Marion.  Robert  Lide  married  first, 
Sarah  Kolb,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons — James,  Hugh,  and 
Peter.  He  afterwards  married  Mrs.  Fort,  and  subsequently 
contracted  a  third  marriage.  ||  The  second  son,  the  late 
Hugh    Lide,   of    Darlington,    was    a   man    remarkable    for 


*  Colonel  Lide,  as  be  was  afterwards  known,  settled  on  the  plain,  between 
the  site  of  St.  David's  Church  and  the  river.  He  gave  the  land  on  which  St. 
David's  Church  was  built. 

He  subsequently  became  a  prominent  and  influential  Baptist,  and  donated 
the  ground  on  which  the  first  Baptist  Church,  at  Cheraw  Hill,  was  erected. 
This  was  between  St.  David's  Church  and  the  river,  on  the  old  road  as  it  came 
up  from  the  ferry. 

Of  the  original  deed,  executed  in  1785,  the  author  has  a  copy. 

f  This  lady  became  Mrs.  Twitty,  and  afterwards  Mrs.  Burn. 

J  The  lands  first  settled  by  Major  Lide,  were  in  that  large  bend  of  the  river 
below  Sugar  Loaf  (a  well-known  point  on  Pedee),  afterwards  the  property  of 
the  Saunders',  and  subsequently  belonging  to  the  late  Colonel  Bright  William- 
son, of  Darlington. 

§  This  ferry  took  its  name  from  having  been  called  by  one  of  the  first  owners 
of  it,  "  Cash-way,"  meaning  that  all  persons  who  crossed  were  to  pay  cash. 

II  The  fruits  of  this  marriage  were  the  late  Mrs.  James  Lide,   Mrs.   Cyms 


HISTORY   OF   THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  79 

strength  of  character  and  solidit}-  of  understanding ;  of  re- 
tiring disposition^  however,  lie  sought  not  publicity,  and 
passed  away,  after  a  useful  life,  little  known  beyond  the 
limits  of  his  native  district. 

The  name  of  Baxter  appeared  on  the  Pedee  as  early  as 
1740.  About  this  time  lands  were  granted  to  James 
Baxter  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  on  Poke  Swamp,  in 
what  is  now  INIarion  district.  He  was  probably  the  father 
of  Colonel  John  Baxter,  a  man  of  note  in  civil  and  military 
life  in  that  region. 

After  the  Revolution  the  family  moved  lower  down  the 
river. 

In  September,  1743,  400  acres  of  land  in  the  Welch 
Tract  were  granted  to  John  Luke.  The  name  continued  to 
be  known  many  years  after  on  Pedee. 

About  this  period  William  Colt  and  Abraham  Colson 
settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  below  the  Welch  Neck. 
The  name  of  Colson  was  long  known,  while  that  of  Colt 
disappeared  not  many  years  afterward. 

In  1744,  John  Wilks  obtained  a  grant  for  748  acres  of 
land  in  Craven  county.  He  was  the  ancestor  of  a  worthy 
family,  whose  descendants  are  yet  found  in  Darlington  and 
Chesterfield  districts.  From  1747  onwards,  the  influx  of 
population  was  more  rapid,  and  continued  to  increase.  In 
the  latter  part  of  the  year  previous  came  George  Hicks, 
from  Virginia.  The  family  was  of  English  descent.  Being 
a  man  of  means  and  influence,  Mr.  Hicks  induced  a  number 
of  his  own  relatives  and  others  also  to  come  with  him.  He 
became  the  head  of  a  large  connexion  on  the  Pedee.  The 
first  record  of  his  name  is  in  a  grant  for  land,  in  the 
Welch  Tract,  January  22nd,  1747.  He  had  probably  made 
a  visit  the  year  before.  On  the  18th  of  November,  1747, 
as  appears  from  the  records  of  Council,  "  was  presented 
the  humble   Petition  of  George    Hicks  ;  setting  forth,  that 


Bacot,  and  Mrs.  .Tames  Pugh,  of  Darlington  ;  also  John  W.  Litle,  and  Hannah, 
who  married  Thomas  Hart. 

After  her  husband's  death,  Mrs.  Lide  married  a  Mr.  HoUoway,  of  whom  the 
late  Jesso  Holloway,  of  Darlington,  was  a  son,  a  man  of  unassuming  parts,  but 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him  for  his  purity  and  excellence  of  character. 


80  HISTOEY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

he  lately  arrived  from  Virginia^  with  a  family  consisting  of 
nine  whites  and  eleven  blacks  ;  that  he  is  willing  to  settle 
and  cultivate  a  part  of  his  Majesty^s  landsj — Praying,  that 
he  may  obtain  grants  in  proportion  to  the  said  numbers  ; 
and  being  informed  that  a  tract  of  land,  containing  4,000 
acres,  was  surveyed  in  the  Welch  Tract  for  James  GriflBth, 
by  virtue  of  a  warrant,  dated  December  6th,  1745,  requiring 
the  same  to  be  returned  into  the  Secretary's  Office  for  a 
grant  in  12  months,  a  Plot  of  which  has  passed  the 
Surveyor- GcneraFs  Office  above  a  year  ago,  but  no  return 
made  thereof  into  the  Secretary's  Office ;  and  the  said 
Griffith  having  some  time  ago  left  this  Province,  and  as  has 
been  reported,  and  is  generally  believed,  has  since  come  to 
an  untimely  end.  Wherefore,  the  Petitioner  prays  his 
Excellency  &  Hon%  to  direct  the  Sui'veyor-Gieneral  to  cer- 
tify the  said  Plot  in  his  name,  and  that  he  may  obtain  a 
grant  thereof,  though  previously  certified  by  him  for  the  said 
Griffith ;  and  also  that  the  said  Surveyor-General  may  be 
dii'ccted  to  certify  for  the  Petitioner  two  Tracts  of  land  in 
the  Welch  Tract, — one  containing  200  acres,  the  other  100 
acres, — surveyed  for  James  Jones,  by  virtue  of  a  Warrant, 
dated  February  12th,  1745,  requiring  a  return  into  the  Secre- 
tary's Office  in  12  months;  which  said  Plots  were  returned 
into  the  Surveyor-General's  Office,  March  9th,  1746,  where 
they  now  lie,  no  application  having  been  made  for  the  same. 
Your  Petitioner  further  prays,  that,  in  your  order  to  the 
Surveyor,  you  may  direct  him  to  admeasure  and  lay  out 
300  acres  of  land  in  the  Welch  Tract,  being  in  the  whole 
1000  acres. 

"  Upon  examining  the  said  Petition,  and  enquiring  into 
his  Family  right,  it  appearing  that  three  in  whose  right  he 
had  petitioned  were  not  of  his  own  family,  being  his  Sister's 
children,  and  the  third,  his  Overseer,  it  was  Ordered,  that 
the  Surveyor- Gen^  do  certify  the  Plots  prayed  for  in  the 
name  of  the  Petitioner,  and  that  150  acres  may  also  be 
surveyed  for  him  in  the  Welch  Tract." 

Having  thus  secured  a  substantial  landed  estate,  George 
Hicks  began  a  successful  career,  and  amassed  a  large  for- 
tune. He  married  a  widow,  Mrs.  Sarah  Gardiner  (a 
daughter   of  the    Rev.    Philip    James,    first    pastor   of  the 


HISTOKY    OF    THE    OLD    CHKRAWS.  81 

Welch  Neck  Cliurcli),  and  raised  a  large  family,  from  ^vliom 
a  numerous  progeny  sprang. 

INIrs.  Gardiner,  at  tlic  time  of  her  marriage  Mitli  Mr. 
Hicks,  had  a  daughter,  Sarah,  who  became  the  second  wife 
of  William  Pcgncs,  of  Chestertield.  The  fruits  of  her 
marriage  Avith  Mr.  Hicks  were  five  daughters  and  two  sons. 
Of  the  latter,  Benjamin  died  young  ;  George  married  a 
Miss  Hicks,  and  moved  at  an  early  period  to  the  West. 
The  daughters*  were  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Nancy,  Lucy,  and 
Charlotte.  Colonel  Hicks,  as  he  was  afterwards  known, 
was  a  man  of  high  character  and  extensive  influence.  His 
name  will  frequently  appear  in  connexion  with  St.  David^s 
parish,  and  the  opening  scenes  of  the  Revolution. 

Of  those  who  are  known  to  have  emigrated  to  the  Pedee 
with  Colonel  Hicks,  was  a  brother,  William.  He  had  three 
sons — Charles,  Benjamin,  and  Daniel. 

Daniel  Hicks  lived  in  Richmond  County,  N.C.,  near  the 
State  line,  and  was  an  active  Whig  in  the  Revolution.  His 
family,  after  his  death,  removed  to  Georgia.  The  family  of 
Benjamin  Hicks  also  left  Carolina  at  an  early  period. 

In  the  year  1747,  other  names  appear  as  grantees  of 
land  in  the  Welch  Tract.  Among  these  were  John 
Powell,  Alexander  Staples,  John  Singleton,  and  Edward 
Boyakin. 

In  ]March,  1748,  John  Purvis  petitioned  Council  for  150 
acres  of  land  on    Thompson's  Creek.f  Pedee  River,   stating 


*  Mary  married  Malachi  Mui  pby,  and  had  several  children,  of  whom  account 
has  been  given. 

Elizabeth  married  a  cousin,  Benjamin  Hicks,  who  removed  to  the  West. 

Nancy  married  Thomas  Godfrey.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were  Sophia, 
Harriet  (afterwards  Mrs.  Samuel  Gillespie),  Mary  (Mrs.  Saunders),  Elizabeth, 
William,  Samuel,  Wilson,  George,  Richard,  and  Thomas. 

Lucy  married  George  Strothei",  and  was  the  mother  of  Elizabeth  (who  married 
Robert  Gregg),  Mary  (afterwards  Mrs.  Deer),  Harriet  (Mrs.  Broughton),  and  a 
son,  George.     Charlotte,  the  youngest  daugliter,  married  John  Wilson. 

Of  this  marriage  the  sons,  Benjamin  and  George,  died  young.  The  daughters 
were  Eleanor,  afterwards  Mrs.  James  A.  Harrington  ;  Sarah  J.,  who  married 
Oliver  H.  KoUock  ;  and  Anne,  who  became  the  wife  of  James  A.  Hart.  Of 
this  large  number,  but  few  survive.  And  .such  have  been  the  changes  of  time, 
that  not  one  of  the  name  of  Hicks  is  now  known  on  the  Pedee,  though  there 
are  many  descendants. 

f  The  descendants  of  John  Purvis,  as  has  not  very  often  been  the  case  in  this 
country  of  change,  have  continued  in  possession,  as  is  supposed,  of  the  land  first 
granted,  and  remain  there,  some  of  thon  at  least,  to  the  present  day. 

G 


82  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

that  lie  had  a  wife  and  one  child  ;  that  he  came  from  Vir- 
ginia the  year  previous,  and  had  no  land  assigned  him.  His 
petition  was  granted. 

About  the  same  time  was  presented  the  petition  of  John 
Rushing,  stating  that  he  came  from  Virginia  with  a  wife 
and  one  child,  and  had  made  a  settlement  in  the  Welch 
Tract  on  Thompson's  Creek.  A  grant  of  3  50  acres  was 
made  to  him. 

In  1749,  Joshua  Edwards  emigrated  to  the  Pedee.  He 
was  born  in  Pembrokeshire,  South  Wales,  February  11th, 
1703-4,  and  removed  before  his  maturity  to  Pennsylvania, 
or  the  Welch  Tract  in  Delaware,  as  it  afterwards  became. 
Here  he  remained  about  thirty  years  before  following  his 
countrymen  to  Carolina.  He  petitioned  for  land  in  1751, 
stating  that  he  was  a  settler  in  this  Province,  having  come 
nearly  two  years  since  from  Philadelphia,  and  that  he  had  a 
wife  and  one  child.  His  petition  was  granted.  By  his  first 
wife,  Joshua  Edwards  had  two  soas,"^  Thomas  and  Abel,  and 
two  daughters,  Rachel  and  Phoebe.  By  his  [second  wife, 
three  sons,t  Henry,Elijah,  and  John,  and  one  daughter,  Mary. 

Joshua  Edwards  was  ordained  in  1751,  and  became  the 
third  pastor  of  the  Welsh  Neck  Church.  This  connexion 
ceased  after  six  years.  He  then  took  charge  of  the  Mount 
Pleasant  congregation,  near  Cashway  Ferry,  an  off-shoot 
from  the  Welch  Neck  Church  ;  and,  resigning  this^  con- 
tinued his  work  on  Little  Pedee,  where  he  remained  until 
1768.  Mr.  Edwards  was  a  man  of  ardent  piety  and  great 
purity  of  character.  He  lived  to  see  of  his  posterity  eighty- 
two,  and  died  August  22nd,  178 4. J 


*  Thomas,  the  first  son,  married  Sarah  Roblyn,  the  fruit  of  which  marriage 
was  but  one  child,  Joshua  Edwards,  jun.  Abel,  the  second  sou,  married  Sarah 
Harry ;  and  afterward  Sarah  Douthel  (Dousnel,  as  it  appears  in  the  earliest 
records).  His  children  were  Catharine,  who  married  Thrashley  Chapman  ; 
Edward,  who  married  Mary  Dewitt ;  and  Sarah,  who  married  John  McDonald. 

Rachel,  the  elder  daughter,  married  Roderic  Mclver.  Phoebe,  the  younger 
dauo-hter,  married  Josiah  Evans.  Abel  Edwards  lived  on  the  north  side  of 
Cedar  Creek,  near  the  crossing  of  the  Cheraw  and  Darlington  R.R. 

f  Of  the    sons   of  Joshua   Edwards  by  his  second  marriage,  John  married 

Elizabeth   Bevil,    Henry  married  Elizabeth  Oliver,  Elijah ,  and  Mary, 

the  daughter,  John  Rodgers.  Henry  Edwards  is  remembered  by  some  persons 
of  the  present  day  as  an  old  revolutionary  soldier.  He  was  a  man  of  stout 
frame,  and  told  of  many  a  hard-fought  battle  througli  which  he  had  passed. 

:j:  Wood  Furman's  "  History  of  Charleston  Association,"  pp.  70,  71. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHEHAWS.  83 

Abel,  liis  second  son,  was  a  useful  man,  and  a  highly- 
esteemed  member  and  deacon  of  the  Welch  Neck  Church. 
He  died  in  1793.  His  son,  the  late  Major  Edward  Edwards, 
of  Chesterfield  district,  was  the  father  of  a  large  family,  of 
which  there  are  many  descendants.  Thomas  Edwards  re- 
ceived his  education  at  the  North.  He  died  in  Charles- 
town  at  an  early  age,  January  1st,  1776. 

In  1751,  a  name  appeared  for  the  first  time  in  the  history 
of  settlements  on  the  Pedee,  which  w^as  destined  to  become 
distinguished  in  its  future  history.  On  the  2nd  of  April  of 
that  year,  Henry  Kolb  petitioned  Council  for  land,  in  or 
near  the  Welch  Ti'act ;  stating  that  he  was  a  settler  in  the 
same,  with  three  in  family,  himself  and  two  negroes,  and 
that  he  was  willing  to  cultivate  the  soil.  He  obtained  a 
grant  for  150  acres.  Two  years  later,  Peter  Kolb  also 
petitioned  for  land,  stating  that  he  had  for  some  years  been 
a  settler  in  the  Welch  Tract ;  also  Jacob  Kolb,  who  ap- 
peared, fi'om  his  petition,  to  have  had  then  a  plantation  on 
the  Pedee.  He  asked  for  more  land.  Martin  Kolb  was 
another  settler  of  the  name.  They  came  from  Pennsylvania. 
Peter  Kolb  married  Ann,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  Rev. 
Philip  James.  The  fruits  of  this  marriage  were  five  chil- 
dren— Abel,*  who  became  so  distinguished,  married  Sarah 
James ;  Ann  James,  who  married  Joshua  Edwards  ;f  Han- 
nah, who  married  Joseph  Dabbs  ;J  Benjamin, §  who  married 
Elizabeth  Murphy;  and  Sarah,  who  married  Evander  M'Iver.|| 


*  Tlie  fruits  of  this  mumage  were  Ann,  who  married  the  late  Major  James 
Pouncey,  of  IMarlborough,  of  venerable  memory,  from  whom  a  large  connexion 
have  descended ;  Sarah,  who  married  first  Benjamin  David,  and  afterward 
Philip  Pledger ;  and  a  son,  James,  who  died  young. 

t  Joshua,  the  grandson  of  Rev.  Joshua  Edwards,  had  four  children — Sarah, 
who  married  James  Hart,  and  afterwards  John  Mcintosh  ;  Thomas,  who  died 
at  manhood ;  Peter,  who  married  Jame  Draughton ;  and  Ann  James,  who 
married  John  Kirven,  and  afterwards  Daniel  Dubose. 

X  The  children  of  Joseph  Dabbs  were — Nancy,  who  married  Benjamin 
WHliams ;  Samuel,  who  married  Sarah  Grove ;  and  William,  who  married 
Martha  Elison. 

§  The  children  of  this  marriage  were — Nancy,  who  married  David  Archer  ; 
Harriet,  who  married  James  Holloway  ;  Abel,  who  married  a  Miss  Meigs; 
Sarah,  who  remained  single ;  Betsey,  who  married  a  Mr.  McQuirt;  and  Mary, 
who  married  Thomas  Meigs. 

li  Evander  Mclver  had  ten  children — Catharine,  who  married  Samuel  Evans; 
Nancy  J.,  who  remained  single ;  Rachel,  who  married  Jesse  Holloway  ;  John 
Kolb,  who  married  Sarah  Marshall;  Evander,  who  married  Eliza  Cowan;  Abel, 

G  2 


84  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

The  late  Jehu  Kolb,  of  Darlington,  was  a  collateral  relative 
of  Abel  Kolb,*  probably  the  grandson  of  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  the  name  already  mentioned.  He  was  a  man  of 
unassuming  character  and  retiring  virtues,  but  bold  and 
fearless  when  occasion  demanded.  He  rendered  effective 
service  in  the  Revolution,  carrying  the  marks  of  serious  in- 
juries received  to  his  grave,  and  died  some  years  since,  uni- 
versally respected. 

In  May,  1751,  Anthony  Pouncey  obtained  a  grant  for 
land  in  the  Welch  Tract.  He  petitioned  for  and  obtained 
a  grant  for  800  acres  on  the  Wateree,  April  6th,  1749, 
where  he  probably  settled  first.  In  this  petition  he  stated 
that  he  had  a  wife,  six  children,  and  eight  slaves.  The  name 
of  William  Pouncey  appears  about  the  same  time.  The 
former  was  probably  the  father  of  Williamf  and  Uoger.  J 

In  1751,  the  name  of  John  Todd  appears  as  a  grantee  of 


who  married  Ann  Chapman,  and  subsequently  Rachel  Love ;  Peter  Kolb,  who 
married  Elizabeth  Chapman,  and  afterwards  Mrs.  Maria  Nettles ;  Thomas  A., 
who  married  Nancy  Howard,  of  Alabama  ;  Eliza,  who  married  Thomas  Griffin; 
and  Mary  Ann  WiUiams,  who  married  Horatio  Cannon. 

Mrs.  Joshua  Edwards,  who  survived  her  husband,  married  Enoch  Evans.  The 
fruits  of  this  marriag^e  were  six  children — Margaret  James,  who  married  William 
Kirven  ;  Thomas,  who  married  Mary  Brooks;  John,  who  married  Mary  Craig; 
Hannah  Kolb,  who  married  John  F.  Wilson  ;  Enoch,  who  married  Ann  Pegnes ; 
and  Benjamin,  who  died  at  an  early  age. 

*  Through  his  wife  Abel  Kolb  became  possessed  of  the  plantation  at  the 
public  ferry  (Sparks')  near  Society  Hill.  His  residence  was  a  two-story  brick 
building,  immediately  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river,  a  short  distance  above  the 
ferry.  The  cellar-walls  of  this  dwelling  were  brought  to  view  a  few  years 
since  by  a  freshet  in  the  river  breaking  over  the  embankment,  and  interesting 
relics  were  obtained. 

f  William  Pouifcey  died  when  quite  young,  leaving  one  son,  the  late  Major 
James  Pouncey — and  a  daughter,  who  married  Alexander  Peterkin,  the  father 
of  Jesse  and  James  Peterkin  of  Marlborough,  well  known  to  the  present 
generation  in  that  district.  Major  Pouncey  married  Ann  Kolb,  and  reared  a 
large  family.  His  sons  were  William,  who  married  Sarah  Sparks;  James, 
who  married,  first,  Mary  Pledger,  and  afterward,  Mary  Porniss ;  John  A.,  who 
married  Miss  Armstrong,  of  N.  C.  j  and  Peter  A.  K.,  who  married  Miss  Ade- 
laide Hodge. 

His  daughters  were  Sarah,  who  married  D.  M.  Crosland ; 

Mary,  „  Dr.  Robert  S.  Thomas ; 

Eliza,  „  Wm.  Crosland ; 

Ann  Jane,      „  John  Smith,  of  N.  C. 

J  Roger  Pouncey  had  two  sons — Anthony  and  William — and  three  daugh- 
ters— Mary,  Lucy,  and  Delilah. 

Anthony  Pouncey  die;l  in  Marlborough  early  in  the  present  century.  His 
widow  afterwards  married,  and  removed  with  her  familv  to  the  West. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD   CHEllAWS.  85 

land  on  Pedee.      This   name  continued  to  be  known   long 
after  in  Chesterfield  District. 

In  1 753,  an  important  addition  was  made  to  the  settle- 
ment above  the  Welch  Neck,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 
Philip  Pledger  came  from  Virginia  during  that  year,  on  a 
visit  to  the  Pedee,  as  appears  from  tlie  following  certi- 
ficate : — 

"  Amelia  County  :  I,  Charles  Irby,  one  of  his  Majesty^s 
Justices  of  the  Peace  of  the  said  County,  do  hereby  certify, 
that  the  Bearer,  Philip  Pledger,  is  and  has  been  an  Inhabi- 
tant of  this  County  12  years,  and  behaved  well,  and  has 
published  his  intention  of  travelling  into  Carolina,  There- 
fore I  desire  all  Persons  to  permit  the  said  Philip  Pledger  to 
pass  and  repass  upon  his  lawful  affairs,  as  he  may  have  oc- 
casion. Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  this  17th  of  March, 
1  752.  "  Charles  Irby." 

This  interesting  relic*  indicates  how  closely  the  traveller 
was  watched,  and  the  importance  attached  to  character  at  a 
time  when  any  new  comer  was  closely  scrutinized  by  those 
among  whom  he  was  to  settle.  Having  selected  a  valuable 
body  of  land  on  Pedee,  Mr.  Pledger  returned  for  his  family, 
with  whom  he  also  brought  back  other  emigrants.  Among 
these  was  a  family  of  Councill,  closely  connected  with  the 
Pledgers ;  and  afterwards  numerous,  but  which,  in  name  at 
least,  has  long  since  disappeared.  Philip  Pledger  married 
a  Miss  Ellis,  of  Va.  He  had  two  sons,  Joseph  and  John, 
and  two  daughters;  one  of  these  married  James  Hicks,  the 
other  married,  first,  a  Councill,  and  after^^rd  Wm.  Ter- 
rill,  a  son  of  one  of  the  Welch  settlers.  Joseph  and  John 
were  old  enough  to  take  part  with  their  father  in  the  Revo- 
lution. Philip  Pledger,  though  advanced  in  years  when 
the  war  commenced,  was  active  notwithstanding,  and  ren- 
dered efficient  service.      In  1754  he  received  a  commission 


*  This  document  was  found  at  the  house  of  Philip  Pledger,  Esq.,  of  Marl- 
borough, a  great-grandson  of  the  first  settler. 

He  resides  at  the  old  familj-  seat  on  the  lands  originally  purchased,  and  which 
have  remained  in  the  family  ever  since.  Here  the  author  found  the  largest 
and  most  valuable  collection  of  early  manuscript  matter  anywhere  met  with, 
to  which  Mr.  Pledger  kindly  gave  him  free  access  to  use  as  he  might  desire. 


86  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

as  Captain  of  Militia  iu  liis  Majesty's  service.  Capt.  Pledger 
was  a  man  of  high  character  and  generons  traits.  Possessed 
of  large  means^  he  Avas  able  as  he  was  willing  to  contribute 
to  the  public  welfare. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  troubles  with  the  Mother  Country 
he  received  the  highest  marks  of  confidence  from  his  fellow- 
citizens^  and  faithfully  discharged  the  important  trusts  com-  • 
mitted  to  him.      He  died  at  an  advanced  age. 

About  this  time,  valuable  additions  were  made  to  the 
settlements  on  Little  Pedee  in  the  upper  part  of  what  is 
now  Marion  District.  Among  these  were  the  Betheas,  of 
whom  William  Bethea  was  one  of  the  first  and  most  promi- 
nent. He  was  an  active  Whig.  A  large  and  respectable 
connexion  of  this  name  are  yet  found  in  Marion.  Another 
settler  at  this  period,  still  lower  down  on  the  Pedee,  was 
Jacob  Grice.  He  came  from  North  Carolina.  The  family 
has  been  well  known  in  Marion. 

In  1752,  the  name  of  Gregg  first  appeared  on  the  Pedee. 
This  family  was  of  Scottish  origin.  Not  long  after  the  time 
of  Cromwell  a  part,  if  not  all  of  them,  removed  from  the 
North  of  Scotland  to  Londonderry,  Ireland,  from  whence 
the  emigration  to  America  took  place.  On  3rd  July,  1752, 
John  Gregg  petitioned  Council,  stating,  that  he  was  desirous 
of  settling  himself  and  family  in  this  Province — that  his 
family  consisted  of  himself  and  wife,  one  Dutch  servant,  and 
five  negroes,  for  whom  no  grant  had  been  obtained, — and 
that  he  was  desirous  of  getting  two  plots  of  500  acres  each, 
which  had  been  surveyed  for  Mr.  John  Atkins  about  1735- 
36,  and  were  still  lying  in  the  Survey or-Generars  office. 
He  obtained  grants  for  1350  acres.  At  the  same  time  Dr. 
John  Gregg^  petitioned  for  land  lower  down,  in  the  fork  of 
Black  River  and  Pedee. 

With  John  Gregg  came  a  brother,  Joseph.  They  were 
known,  as  were  many  others  who  came  to  the  Province 
about  the  same  time,  as  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians.  Such 
was  the  Colony  in  Williamsburg.  From  these  brothers, 
John  and    Joseph,    descended   the   large   connexion    of  the 


*  Dr.  John  Greg^  was  probably  a  near  relative  of  John  and  Joseph,  but  of 
his  subsequent  history  nothing  is  known. 


HISTORY   OF    THE   OLD    CIIERAWS.  87 

name,  most  numerously  reprcseutecl  in  jNIarion.  Branches 
of  the  family  settled  also  in  Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania, 
and  Virginia. 

The  children"^  of  John  Gregg  and  Eleanor,  his  wife,  were 
James,  John,  ]Margaret,  Robert,  Mary,  William,  and  Jennet. 
James,  the  eldest,  married  IVIary  Wilson,  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Colony  in  Williamsbm-g,  and  reared  a  large  family. 
James  Gregg  lived  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  on  Poke 
Swamp.  He  was  a  captain  in  the  Revolution,  and  with 
his  brothers,  who  were  of  age,  rendered  efficient  service  in 
the  cause  of  liberty.  Joseph  Gregg  was  also  the  father  of 
a  large  family.f  He  was  a  brave  and  valiant  Whig.  John 
Gregg  died  about  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1775,  ha\'ing 
lived  long  enough  to  see  the  beginning  of  the  troubles  that 
were  to  come  upon  his  children. 

In  Nov.  1753,  John  Stubbs  obtained  a  grant  for  lands  on 
Cat  Fish.  He  was  probably  the  ancestor  of  the  large  con- 
nexion of  that  name,  since  known  in  Marlborough  District. 

The  battle  of  Culloden,  which  occurred  in  April  1746,  led 
to  the  removal  of  many  families  to  America.  Among  those 
who  were  ranked  as  rebels  in  that  conflict  and  afterward, 
Avere  several  names  which  appeared  about  this  time  on  the 
Pedee.      Of  these  were  M'^Iver,  M'Intosh,  and  Cusack. 

The  accounts  of  the  battle  were  received  in  Charles-town, 
and  published  in  the  July  following. 


*  The  children  of  James  Gregg,  were  Jennet,  who  married  James  Hudson  ; 
Mary,  who  married  Adam  Marshall :  Sarah,  who  married  a  Mr.  Jones,  and  re- 
moved to  the  west  at  an  early  period ;  Margaret,  who  married  Samuel  Hall,  of 
No.  Ca. ;  John,  who  married  his  cousin.  Jennet  Gregg  j  David,  who  married 
Athalinda  Brocky  ;  James,  who  married  Cornelia  Maxcy ;  Elizabeth,  who  married 
W.  Davidson  Hall,  of  No.  Ca. ;  and  Elias,  who  never  married. 

John  Gregg  married  Eleanor  McKnight,  and  had  ten  children — Jane,  John, 
Alexander,  Jennet,  William,  Samuel,  James,  Margaret,  Robert,  and  Elizabeth. 

Margaret  married  a  Mr.  Scott.  The  fruits  of  this  marriage  were  six  children 
— Elizabeth,  Rebecca,  Mary,  Samuel,  John,  and  William. 

Robert  had  but  one  child,  a  daughter. 

Mary  married  Mr.  Askius,  and  had  four  children — Samuel,  John,  Robert, 
and  William. 

William  was  the  father  of  nine  children — Robert  James,  William  Gordon, 
Eliza,  Gadsden,  Levi,  Wilds,  Boyd,  William,  and  Susannah. 

Jennet  married  Mr.  Bingham,  and  had  several  children. 

t  The  children  of  Joseph  Gregg  were  Alexander,  Robert,  Joseph,  Jennet, 
Mary,  Jlargaret,  and  Sarah.  The  descendants  of  most  of  these  remain  in 
Marion. 


88  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD   CHERAWS. 

Amoug  tlie  ladies  in  custody,  the  Laird  of  M'lntosh^s 
wife  is  mentioned,  and  Col.  and  Ensign  M'^Intosh  were 
among  the  rebel  officers  slain.  The  names  of  Cusack  and 
Murphy  were  amoug  the  prisoners. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Charles-town  Gazette,  v/riting 
from  Loudon,  May  10,  said,  "  we  are  assured  that  his 
Majesty  has  been  pleased  to  order  such  of  the  Rebel  private 
men  as  his  Royal  Highness  shall  think  proper  objects  of 
his  clemency,  to  be  transported  to  some  of  his  Majesty^s 
American  Colonies." 

Soon  after  this  his  Majesty^s  Council  in  this  ProAdnce 
congratulated  his  Excellency,  the  Governor,  on  the  glorious 
defeat  of  the  rebels  at  Culloden.  To  some  of  these  rebels 
and  their  children  America  was  afterwards  largely  indebted 
for  valiant  services  in  the  cause  of  freedom. 

In  1756  the  names  of  M'lA^er  and  Mcintosh  appear 
among  our  early  records.  In  this  year  Sarah  M'lver  was 
a  grantee  of  land  on  Lynches  Creek.  Roderick  M'lver  was 
one  of  the  first  of  this  family.  He  came  directly  from 
Scotland.  His  first  wife  was  Anne  Rogerson.  Soon  after 
his  arrival  he  married  Rachel,  daughter  of  Rev.  Joshua 
Edwards,  and  had  three  children,  Evander,  John  E.^  and 
Catharine.  Evander  M'lver  married  Sarah  Kolb,  as  already 
related,  from  whom  a  large  family  have  descended.  He 
was  long  and  prominently  connected  with  the  Wekh  Neck 
Church.  John  E.  married  Mary  Anne  Williams.^  Catharine 
married  first  Josiah  Evans,  and  afterwards  the  Rev.  Edmond 
Botsford,t  a  Baptist  Minister  of  high  standing  and  great 
excellence,  ^^oderick  M'lver  died  in  March,  1768  ;  of  that 
branch  of  the  family  (if  they  were  connected)  rej^resented 
by  Sarah  M'lver,  nothing  is  known. 

In  the  year  1756  John  M'Intosh  obtained  a  grant  for 
land  on  Black  River.      He  probably  came  soon  after  to  the 


*  The  fruits  of  this  marriage  were  John  E.,  who  died  at  manhood ;  Ann 
Eliza,  who  married  John  W.  Davis;  Catharine,  who  died  in  infancy;  David 
Rogerson  Williams,  who  married  Caroline  Wilds,  and  afterwards  Martha  E. 
Grant;  Thomas  E.,  who  married  Eliza  M'Intosh,  and  subsequently  Sai-ah  Bacot ; 
and  Alexander,  who  married  Mary  Hanford. 

t  Mr.  Eotsford's  second  wife  was  Catharine  Evans,  by  whom  he  had  one 
child,  Catharine,  who  married  Moses  Fort.  He  contracted  afterwards  a  third 
and  fourth  marriage.     The  children  by  his  first  marriage  died  in  infancy. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEUAWS.  89 

neigliborliood  of  the  Welch  Neck,  on  Pcdee.  John  and 
Alexander,  two  brothers,  were  the  first  of  this  name.  John, 
the  elder  of  the  two,  settled  ahont  two  miles  below  Long 
Bhiff,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.*  He  married  a 
INIiss  ^likell,  and  had  five  sonsf — Alexander,  John,  Loch- 
lin,  William,  and  James.      John  M'Intosh  died  in  1774. 

The  name,  in  only  two  branches  of  his  family,  is  now 
represented  on  the  Pedee. 

Alexander,  the  younger  brother,  settled  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river,  a  few  miles  below  Long  Bluff,  in  the  Welch 
Xeck.  He  married  a  Miss  James,  and  had  three  children| 
— Catharine,  John,  and  Eleanor. 

Acquiring  probably  a  good  projjcrty  by  his  marriage,  he 
subsequently  amassed  a  large  fortune,  and  was  prominently 
connected  with  the  history  of  the  Pedee  in  civil  and  military 
affairs.  He  was  of  handsome  and  commanding  person,  and 
possessed  of  a  better  education  than  was  common  in  that 
day.  His  name  will  often  appear  in  the  following  pages. 
He  is  said  to  bave  been  the  first  of  the  early  planters  who 
brought  the  native  African  to  this  region. 

The  family  of  Mikell  came  about  this  time  to  Pedee. 
There  were  two  brothers,  John  and  William,  and  a  sister. 
The  latter,  as  has  been  stated,  married  John  M'Intosh. 
John,  the  elder  brother,  settled  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
a  few  miles  above  LongBluff.§      He  became  a  Major  in  the 


*  On  the  public  highway,  leading  to  George-town,  just  above  Cock-run  (a 
small  swamp  stream),  where  the  traces  of  an  ancient  settlement  are  still  to  be 
seen. 

t  Of  these  Alexander,  the  eldest  son,  well  known  afterwards  as  Captain 
M'Intosli,  served  actively  in  the  Revolution.  John,  the  second  son,  married 
a  Miss  Mikell,  and  died  early  :  Lochlin,  a  Miss;  Vereen,  near  George-town  | 
William,  a  Miss  Mikell,  daughter  of  John  Mikell  (the  late  Mrs.  F.  C.  Watson, 
of  Chesterfield,  was  a  child  of  this  marriage)  ;  James,  the  youngest  son,  married 
a  Miss  Lucas,  and  was  the  father  of  the  late  James  H.  M'Intosh,  of  Society  Hill. 
The  father  died  early.  His  widow,  a  lady  of  advanced  years,  died  in  1862.  She 
was  one  of  the  few  links  left  connecting  the  present  with  that  generation. 

X  Catharine  married,  and  moved  away  at  an  early  period. 

John  married,  and  died  prematurely,  leavii  g  two  children — Alexander  and 
Eleanor.  The  latter  became  the  wife  of  Alexander  Norwood,  formerly  of  Dar- 
lington. 

Eleanor  M'Intosh  married  a  Mr.  Bemhridge,  who  removed  to  Maryland. 

§  This  was  on  the  first  sand  hill,  near  the  river  swamp,  at  what  has  in 
later  years  been  known  as  the  Falconer-place,  on  the  old  road  from  Cheraw 
HiU  to  Long  Bluff. 


90  HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Revolution^  and  was  a  man  of  decided  character  and  in- 
fluence. William^  the  younger  brother,  was  killed  by  the 
Tories. 

These  settlers  soon  became  thoroughly  identified  with 
the  Welch.  Intermarriages  speedily  took  place,  and  re- 
ligious differences  were  CA'cntually  laid  aside  for  the  bonds 
of  a  common  faith,  which  were  long  after  to  unite  them. 
The  Mcintosh's  and  Mclver's  were  Presbyterians  in  the 
Mother  Country. 

In  May,  1761,  a  formal  covenant  and  confession  of 
faith  was  signed,  and  Alexander  Mcintosh  and  Roderick 
M'lver  were  received  into  union  with  the  Welch  Neck 
Church. 

About  this  time  (1756),  the  names  of  Joseph  Brocking- 
ton,  John  Kimbrough,  Abraham  Odam,  John  Holloway, 
James  Sweeney,  Charles  Lowder,*  (or  Lowther),  Samuel 
Windes,  James  and  Alexander  M'Kown,  and  (in  the  follow- 
ing year)  George  Nettles,  are  found  among  the  records  of 
our  early  settlements. 

The  most  of  these  appear  to  have  taken  lands  in  the 
middle  and  lower  parts  of  what  is  now  Darlington  District. 

Joseph  Brockington  probably  settled  lower  down  on 
the  river.  This  family  was  of  English  descent.  The  first 
of  the  name  who  came  to  the  upper  Pedee  was  Richard 
Brockington.  He  remained  a  short  time  in  Charles-town, 
then  purchased  lands  on  the  Pedee  above  George-town,  and 
subsequently  moved  up  the  river.  He  had  two  sons  and  a 
daughter.  William,  the  eldest,  married  Penelope  Benton, 
who  afterwards  became  Mrs.  Bishop ;  Richard  married 
Mary  Hartjf  and  Rebecca,  the  daughter,  married  James 
Pawley. 

John  Kimbrough  came  from  Wake  County,  N°-  C*-  He 
settled  about  ten  miles  below  Long  Bluff,  on  the  west  side 


*  From  this  name  came  that  of  the  lake  (supposed  to  be  the  ancient  bed  of 
the  river)  so  well  known  in  Darlington.  Charles  Lowder  probably  settled  in 
that  neighborhood.  The  name,  other  than  in  this  locality,  disappeared  at  an 
early  period. 

f  The  late  Mrs.  Brockington,  of  Darlington  District,  whose  mansion  was 
for  so  many  years  the  seat  of  the  most  generous  hospitality.  The  chief  delight 
of  this  excellent  lady  seemed  to  consist  in  ministering  to  the  happiness  of 
others. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  91 

of  the  river,  and  became  a  man  of  prominence  in  that 
region.  He  married  Hannah  Kolb,  and  had  a  daughter, 
Ehzabeth,  who  became  the  wife  of  Lemuel  Benton,  a  name 
destined  to  become  distinguished  in  tlie  history  of  the  Pedee. 
Major  Kimbrough  was  a  staunch  Whig,  but  too  advanced  in 
years  when  the  war  began  to  render  active  service. 

His  death  took  place  in  August,  1796.  Of  the  other 
names  mentioned  as  haWng  appeared  about  this  time,  the 
Nettles'  and  M'Kown's  have  continued  to  be  known  in  Dar- 
lington and  Marion  as  large  and  respectable  connexions. 
James  Sweeney  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  progenitor  of 
the  present  family  of  Henegan. 

It  is  known  that  this  was  called  the  Sweeney  family  at 
an  early  period.  When  or  why  the  change  took  place,  is 
not  known  to  the  present  generation. 

Barney,  who  was  probably  the  son  of  James  Sweeney, 
had  two  sons,  Darby  and  John.  Darby  was  the  father  of 
the  late  Dr.  B.  K.  and  Ephraim  L.  Henegan,  of  Marlborough. 
His  daughters  were  Drusilla,  who  married  L.  E.  Stubbs, 
and  Lucrctia,  who  married  Alex.  McCoUum. 

John  Sweeney  married  a  Miss  Ridgel,  and  died  young. 
John  S.  Henegan  was  the  first  of  that  name.  The  families 
became  connected,  and  two  generations  back,  took  the  name 
of  Henegan.  They  lived  first  in  Marion,  where  a  portion  of 
their  descendants^yet  reside  ;  the  other,  a  highly  respectable 
branch  of  the  family,  being  in  Marlborough. 

About  this  period,  came  a  family,  in  numbers  and  in- 
fluence, prominently  connected  with  Darlington  District 
from  an  early  period.  John  Du  Bose  was  the  first  of  the 
name  who  removed  to  this  region.  He  was  of  Huguenot 
descent,  and  came  from  that  settlement  on  Santee  to  Lynchers 
Creek.  His  sons  were  Isaac,  Elias,  Daniel,  and  Joseph. 
These  brothers  lived  in  the  same  neighborhood,"^  were 
men  of  property  before  the  Revolution,  and  took  an  active 
Daniel    was   a    captain,  and   Isaac 


*  This  settlement  was  on  the  east  side  of  Lynche's  Creek,  at  a  point  just 
above  the  crossing  of  the  Wilmington  and  Manchester,  R.  R. ;  a^neighborhood 
in  which  a  sanguinary  struggle  was  carried  on  with  the  Tories,  and  in  which 
the  Du  Bose's  took  a  decisive  part. 


92  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

bore  honorable  office.  Elias^  the  second  son,  was  prominent 
for  character  and  influence.  He  was  a  magistrate  of  note 
before  and  after  the  war.  He  married  Lydia  Cassels^  of 
Sumpter,  and  reared  a  large  family.*  A  sister^  Rebecca, 
married  her  cousin,  Andrew  Du  Bose,t  whose  name  will 
aj)pear  in  a  prominent  connexion  in  the  history  of  the 
Revolution.  Another  sister,  INIargaret,  married  W™'  Dick.  J 
jSlr.  Dick  was  an  active  Whig,  and  noted  for  strength  and 
courage.  He  removed,  after  the  war,  to  Darlington. 
Peter  Du  Bose,  one  of  the  earlier  of  the  name,  was  of  re-- 
spectable  revolutionary  memory. 

Soon  after  Braddock's  defeat,  the  frontier  inhabitants  of 
Vu'ginia  and  Pennsylvania  began  to  move  further  south ; 
and  the  region  of  the  Pedee  was  settled  by  a  few  of  them. 
The  progress  of  population  was  slow  previous  to  the  Indian 
Treaty,  in  1755  ;  after  which  it  began  to  increase. 

John  Donaldson  was  an  early  settler  in  what  is  now 
Marlborough  District.  He  removed  soon  after  to  Richmond 
County,  N.  C,  and  there  became  a  Col.  of  Militia.  He 
died  during  the  war. 

Charles  Irby  came  from  Virginia,  and  settled  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Philip  Pledger,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river.  In  October,  1768,  he  married  jMehitabel  Kolb,  and 
became  a  prominent  and  influential  character.  Col,  Irby, 
as  he  was  afterwards  known,  was  the  progenitor  of  a  large 
family  connexion.§  He  died  shortly  after  the  Revolution. 
Edmond  Irby,  a  brother  or  near  relative  of  Charles  Irby, 
took  an  active  part  as  Captain  in  the  revolutionary 
struggles. 

In   1758,  Thomas  Ayer  emigrated  to  Pedee.      He  came 


*  Jesse,  Isaiah,  and  John  Du  Bose  were  sons  of  Elias. 

f  The  sons  of  this  marriage  were  Benjamin,  Samuel,  and  Joshua,  who  lived 
on  Lynche's  Creek. 

X  The  mother  of  the  late  John  D.  Witherspoon,  of  Society  Hill,  was  a  Miss 
Dick. 

§  Of  the  children  of  Colonel  Irby,  Charles  married  Rebecca  Evans,  sister  of 
the  late  Hon.  Josiah  J.  Evans. 

James  married  a  Miss  Wright,  of  Marlborough. 

Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  William  Pledger. 

Anne  married  Thomas  Lide,  and  another  daughter  married  a  Forniss. 

The  family  of  Charles  Irby,  after  his  death,  removed  to  Alabama,  and  are 
well  known  in  that  State.  The  name  was  spelled  Yerbey  in  some  of  the 
earlier  records,  and  was  thus  pronounced  by  many  for  a  long  time  after. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  93 

from  Ireland  to  Virginia,  and  from  tlicnce  to  Carolina.  lie 
settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  a  few  miles  below 
Hunt's  Bluff,  set  up  a  trading  establishment,  and  amassed  a 
comfortable  property.  Of  an  ardent  temperament,  and  en- 
thusiastic in  his  love  of  liberty,  Thomas  Ayer  would  cheer- 
fully have  sacrificed  life  and  fortune  had  it  been  necessary 
for  its  advancement.  Of  his  children,  were  Lewis  Malone, 
born  in  1769,  the  head  of  a  large  and  respectable  family  in 
Barnwell  District ;  and  the  late  Hartwell  Ayer,  of  Marl- 
borough, from  whom  a  most  worthy  family  have  descended.* 

About  this  time  came  a  family  which  was  to  contribute  a 
large  and  valuable  element  to  the  population  of  Marlborough. 
Tristram  Thomas,  from  whom  this  family  is  descended, 
emigrated  from  Wales  to  the  Province  of  Maryland  in  the 
early  part  of  the  last  century.  He  died  February  11th, 
1746,  lea^ang  a  numerous  family,  of  whom  a  portion  re- 
mained in  Maryland,  and  others  emigrated,  it  is  said,  to 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  His  eldest  son,  Stephen,  emi- 
grated to  North  Carolina,  about  the  year  1750,  and  died 
there,  leaving  a  large  family.  Several  of  his  sons  and 
daughters  subsequently  came  to  the  Pedee,  of  whom  a  por- 
tion removed,  soon  after  the  Revolution,  to  the  then  North- 
West  Territory.  This  family  was  originally,  and  long  con- 
tinued to  be,  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  While  in  Marl- 
borough, they  worshipped  near  Adamsville.f 

Stephen's  children  were,  Sarah,  Robert,  Stephen,  Mary, 
William,  John,  Susan,  Elizabeth,  Lewis,  Tristram,  Phile- 
mon, Benjamin,  and  James,  born  between  the  years  1731 
and  58,  inclusive. 

Of  these,  Robert,  the  eldest  son,  manied  Mary  Sands  in 

*  To  this  venerable  gentleman,  through  the  kind  assistance  of  his  son. 
General  L.  M.  Ayer,  of  Barnwell,  the  author  is  indebted  for  a  thrilling  narra- 
tive of  scenes  connected  with  the  revolutionary  struggle  on  the  Pedee,  and 
much  other  information  of  interest.  Mr.  Ayer,  though  quite  a  youth  at  the 
time  to  which  his  narrative  refers,  retained  a  distinct  recollection  of  the  most 
important  events  which  fell  under  his  observation.  After  his  majority  he  left 
the  Pedee,  and  settled  in  Barnwell.  He  died  at  his  residence  in  Barnwell 
District  in  1863,  at  the  advanced  age  of  93,  the  last  link  which  connected  the 
present  with  the  revolutionary  era  of  the  Pedee. 

f  Now  known  as  I'iney  Grove.  The  original  house  of  worship,  having  been 
purchased  by  Christians  of  different  denominations,  was  long  free  to  all,  but 
ultimately  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Methodists,  the  Baptists  building  at 
Beaver-dam. 


94  HISTORY    or    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

1756.  They  reared  a  large  family."^  The  Rev.  Robert 
Thomas  was  for  fifty  years  a  faithful  minister  of  the  gospel, 
laboring  with  his  own  hands  for  the  support  of  his  house- 
hold. The  old  Churches  at  Beaver-dam  and  Salem,  in  Marl- 
borough, were  established  through  his  instrumentality  He 
abandoned  the  faith  of  his  fathers  at  an  early  period,  and 
united  himself  with  the  Baptists.  He  was  preaching  when 
the  Revolution  began,  and  gave  his  eldest  surviving  son  to  the 
service  of  his  country.  He  died  at  Britton^s  Neck,  Marion 
District,  at  the  advanced  age  of  84,  while  on  a  missionary 
tour  to  the  destitute  in  that  region. 

Lewis,  the  second  son,  married  a  Miss  Breeden,  a  name 
long  known  in  Marlborough.  Many  of  their  descendants 
yet  remain  in  that  district. 

Tristram,  the  seventh  son,  was  born  July  28th,  1752. 
He  married  a  Miss  Hollings worth,  of  one  of  the  Welch 
families.  Though  but  a  few  years  past  his  maturity  when 
the  Revolution  commenced,  he  embarked  actively  in  that 
trying  contest,  and  became  a  prominent  character. 

William  Thomas,  of  another  branch  of  the  same  family, 
emigrated  about  this  time  from  Maryland.  He  came  as  an 
adventurous  youth,  and  found  a  kind  friend  in  Col.  George 
Hicks.  While  living  with  Col.  Hicks,  he  married  his  niece, 
a  Miss  Little,  who  was  possessed  of  a  good  property.  He 
settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  a  few  miles  above 
Cheraw,  and  amassed  a  large  fortune.  He  had  one  child,  a 
son,  William  Little,  who  married  Clarissa  Benton.  The 
fruits  of  this  marriage  were  two  sons,t  William  L.  and 
Alexander,  The  father,  William  L.  Thomas,  was  a  man  of 
brilliant  talents.  The  name  of  this  branch  of  the  family 
has  become  extinct. 

About  the  year  1760,  Claudius  Pegnes  came  to  Pedee. 
He  settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  not  far  below  the 
State  line.      This  family  was  of  French  descent.      The  father 


*  The  children  of  Robert  Thomas  were  Tristram,  Elizabeth,  Nathan,  Sarah, 
John  Sands,  Lucy,  Robert,  H.  Elijah,  William,  Jesse,  Eli,  and  Benjamin. 

The  last  of  this  large  family,  Eli,  died  in  1854.  Many  of  their  descendants 
are  scattered  through  the  West. 

i*  Alexander  died  young.  William  L.  married  Jane  M'Queen,  of  Chester- 
field, and  died  childless.  TMiis  lady  afterwards  married  the  late  Hon.  .Tohn 
Campbell,  of  Marlborough. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  95 

of  Claudius  Pegncs  is  supposed  to  have  left  France  after 
the  Revocatiou  of  the  Edict  of  Nautes,  and  with  his  wife,  a 
Swiss  lady,  settled  iu  Loudon.  Claudius,  their  son,  emi- 
grated to  Carolina,  and  uaarried  a  Miss  Butler,  iu  Charles- 
town  iu  1748—9.  He  removed  thence  to  George-town, 
where  his  children  were  born.  After  his  settlement  on 
Pedee  he  was  prominently  connected  with  St.  David^s 
Parish.  He  died  iu  1790.  Of  his  children,  only  two  sous, 
William  and  Claudius,  reached  maturity.  William  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Murphy,  and  settled  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river  above  Cheraw,  and  near  the  N.  C.  line.  The  fruit  of 
his  first  marriage  was  a  daughter,  Harriet,  who  married 
William  Powe.  His  second  wife  was  Sarah  Gardiner,  a 
step-daughter  of  Col.  George  Hicks.  Wm.  Pegnes  Avas  a 
man  of  more  cultivated  tastes'^"  than  was  usual  at  that  day. 
He  was  a  staunch  Whig,  and  with  others  in  this  region,  as 
will  be  seen  hereafter,  suffered  severely  from  the  depreda- 
tions of  the  Tories. 

Claudius,  the  younger  son,  married  Marcia  Murphy,  and 
settled  near  his  father,  in  the  upper  part  of  what  is  now 
Marlborough  District. 

A  daughter,  Henrietta,  and  other  children  died  young. 
Of  his  four  sons  who  grew  up,  William  married  Miss  Speed 
(of  N"-  C^),  and  late  iu  life  Maria  Punch  of  Cheraw  ;  James 
married  Jane,  a  daughter  of  Wm.  Johnson,  of  Sneeds- 
borough,  N.  C. ;  Malachi  married  Charlotte,  another 
daughter  ;  and  Christopher  married  Eliza,  a  daughter  of  Col. 
Thomas  Evans. f  These  brothers  all  reared  large  families, 
fi'om  whom  a  numerous  and  highly  respectable  connexion 
have  descended. 

Claudius  Pegnes,  their  father,  was  an  active  Whig,  and  a 
man  of  great  usefulness  in  his  day. 


*  The  reinams  of  a  very  excellent  library  were  seen  by  the  author  a  few  years 
since  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mr.  Pegnes's  former  residence. 

■}•  Colonel  Evans  was  the  father  of  the  late  Hon.  Josiah  J.  Evans,  of  Dar- 
lington.    He  married  Elizabeth  Hodge,  and  hud  live  children,  viz. : — 

Thomas,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Harris  Evans ;  Josiah  James,  who  married 
Dorothy  Dewitt;  Abel;  Rebecca,  who  married  Charles  Irby ;  and  Eliza,  who 
married  Christopher  Pegnes.  Colonel  Evans  lived  a  little  out  from  the  Welch 
Neck,  near  the  public  road  leading  from  Long  Blalf  to  the  Old  Marlborough, 
C.  H. 


96  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

In  1759  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Beclgegood  came  to  Pedee, 
having  been  called  to  the  charge  of  the  Welch  Neck  Church. 
This  charge  was  not  assumed,  however,  until  the  following 
year.  He  succeeded  Rev.  Robert  Williams.  Mr.  Bedgegood 
was  born  at  Thornbury,  in  Gloucestershire,  England,  January 
30,  1731.'^  He  came  to  America  in  1751,  and  was  for 
some  time  connected  with  Mr.  Whitfield,  in  the  Georgia 
Orphan  House.  He  became  a  Baptist  in  1757,  and  not 
long  after  received  the  call  to  the  Welch  Neck.  He  re- 
turned in  1767  to  the  lower  part  of  the  Province,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Charles-town,  but  having  received  a  second 
call  to  the  Welch  Neclc,  came  back  and  made  a  permanent 
settlement  in  this  region.  In  1769  he  married  a  Miss 
Murphy.  A  son,  the  late  Nicholas  Bedgegood,  of  Marl- 
borough, was  his  only  child. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Bedgegood  was  a  good  classical  scholar,t 
and  is  said  to  have  been  an  accomplished  speaker.  "  Calm, 
however,  and  didactic,  rather  than  impassioned  in  his  style 
of  preaching,  his  efforts  were  calculated  to  instruct  rather 
than  to  move  the  feelings.  But  few  were  added  to  the 
church  during  his  Ministry  ."J  His  death  took  place  in 
1774,  and  on  1st  February  following,  this  entry  was  made 
on  the  records  of  the  Welch  Neck  Church  :  "  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Nicholas  Bedgegood  died  near  fifteen  years  after  his  first 
call  to  this  place  ;  and  almost  seven  years  after  his  return, 
from  which  time  he  ministered  here  until  his  death.  He 
was  regarded  a  good  scholar  aud  a  sound  divine,  an  eloquent 
preacher,  and  a  polite  gentleman ;  and  well  beloved  by  his 
acquaintance  :  yet,  notwithstanding  all  his  ability  and 
endowments,  he  was  never  very  successful,  especially  in  the 
latter  part  of  his  life  ;  none  being  baptized  after  his  return." 

*  The  following  is  a  copy,  as  preserved  by  liiniself,  of  the  original  record  of 
his  baptism  : — 

"  Nicholas,  Son  of  Nicholas  and  Anne  Bedgegood,  Gent.,  Baptized  Feby.  y' 
22nd,  1731. 

"  This  is  a  true  Copy  of  y<'  Register  at  Thornbury. 

"  JA^  RuTTEE,  Curate. 

"  Born  January  y«  30th,  1731." 

t  He  owned  a  large  and  valuable  library.     A  few  volumes  from  this  library, 
with  a  private  journal  of  Mr.  Bedgegood,  were  ])resented  to  the  author   some 
years  since  by  the  late  Mrs.  Catharine  Billingsly,  of  iMarlborough. 
J  Wood  Furman's  "  History,"  pp.  75,  76. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  97 

To  this  statement  it  ought  to  be  added,  that  from  1767 
to  1774,  when  Mr.  Bedgegood  finished  his  course,  the 
spirit  of  the  time  and  distui'bed  state  of  the  country  were 
most  unfavourable  to  general  religious  progress  or  the 
growth  of  any  congregation. 

Not  later  than  1760,  Martin  Dcwitt  emigrated  to  the 
Pedee  from  Fredericksburgh,  Virginia.  He  settled  on  the 
lower  part  of  Black  Creek,  in  w  hat  is  now  Darlington  Dis- 
trict. He  married  Ellen  Douthel.  His  sons,  who  came 
with  him,  were  William,  Harris,  Thomas,  and  John.  He 
took  pai't  in  the  Revolution,  though  advanced  in  years,  and 
died  in  the  place  of  his  first  settlement.  William,  the  eldest 
son,  married  Mary,  the  daughter  and  only  child  of  Daniel 
Devonald,  one  of  the  Welch  settlers.^  Harris  married 
Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  Richard  Brockington,  and  after- 
wards a  Miss  Pawley,  and  removed  to  the  West  at  an  early 
period.  Thomas  married  and  ^ied  early.  John  was  the 
father  of  the  late  jNlartin  Dewitt,  of  Darlington  ;  a  man  who 
maintained  a  most  unblemished  character  through  life. 

William  Dewitt,  afterwards  well  known  as  Cap"-  Dewitt, 
settled  in  the  upper  part  of  the  present  district  of  Darling- 
ton, f  His  sons  were  John,  Charles  M.,  and  Daniel,  who 
died  when  a  boy.  John,  the  late  Major  Dewitt  of  Society 
Hill,  married  Nancy,  daughter  of  Thomas  Powe.  Charles 
never  married.  He  was  a  man  of  superior  talents.  The 
daughters  of  William  Dewitt  were  Mary,  who  married 
Edward  Edwards  ;  Sarah,  who  married  a  Mr.  James,  and 
subsequently  Sam'*  Ervin;  Eleanor, J  who  married  Allen 
Chapman  ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Sam'*  Wilds,  and  after- 
wards Dr.  Thomas  Smith  ;  Margaret,  who  married  Enoch 
Hanford,  and  Dorothea,  who  married  Josiah  J.  Evans. 
Harriet,  another  daughter,  died  at  an  early  age.  Cap. 
Dewitt   was   a   man  of  strongly  marked  character,   and  an 


*  Her  mother  was  long  a  widow,  of  good  property  for  that  day,  and  lived  a 
short  distance  above  the  old  Welch  Neck  Church,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 

-)•  On  Cedar  Creek,  near  the  village  of  Society  Hill,  where  the  late  Judge 
Evans  resided. 

X  This  excellent  lady,  the  last  of  her  father's  family,  and  almost  of  her  own, 
died  in  18G0.  The  writer  was  indebted  to  her  for  much  interesting  in- 
formation. 


98  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

active  and  devoted  Whig.  He  survived  his  wife^,  and  died 
about  1812. 

Another  branch  of  the  family  came  from  Virginia  about 
the  same  time^  and  settled  lower  down  on  the  river,  in  what 
is  now  Marion  District.*  Thomas  Dewitt,  the  father  of  this 
connexion,  was  probably  a  brother,  or  other  near  relative  of 
Martin  Dewitt.  His  sons  were  Thomas,  William,  and 
Charles.  Charles  married  a  Miss  M'Call  in  1771.  The 
name  is  yet  known  in  Marion.  Many  other  settlers  came 
about  this  time  to  Pedee.  Among  these  was  Elisha  Parker. 
He  purchased  lands  on  the  east  side  of  the  ri^^er,  just  below 
the  State  line.  Here  a  public  ferry  was  established  soon 
after,  known  as  Parker's  Ferry.  Elisha  Parker  died  at  an 
advanced  age.  His  son,  Stephen,  who  came  with  him,  was 
a  ship-builder,  and  before  the  Revolution  built  boats  for  the 
navigation  of  the  river.  Stephen  Parker  accumulated  a 
good  property,  and  died  about  1810.  Some  of  his  descen- 
dants are  now  living  in  Chesterfield  District. 

Hewstiss  was  another  name  early  known.  This  family 
contributed  its  quota  to  the  cause  of  liberty.  Of  the  Tur- 
nages,  who  emigrated  to  what  is  now  Chesterfield  District, 
William  served  his  country  faithfully.  He  died  at  an  ad- 
vanced age  about  1823.  A  son,  John  Turnage,  yet  survives,  a 
worthy  citizen  of  Chesterfield.  With  the  Turnages  came  the 
Ruthvens,  some  of  whom  are  yet  found  in  Chesterfield. 

The  name  of  Sparks  goes  back  to  this  period,  on  the 
Pedee.  There  were  four  brothers  who  came  from  Virginia, 
^^z.,  Daniel,  Charles,  Samuel,  and  Harry.  Of  these,  Charles 
and  Samuel  went  to  sea.  Harry,  a  noted  Wliig,  was  killed 
by  the  Tories.  Daniel,  the  eldest  brother,  settled  first  at 
what  has  long  been  known  as  the  Beauty  Sj)ot,  in  Marl- 
borough District.  The  family  afterwards  resided  at  the  "  Red 
Bluff,"  in  the  Welch  Neck. 

Daniel  Sparks  married  Martha  Pearce,t  and  had  three 
sons — Alexander,  Samuel,  and  Daniel.      Alexander  married 


*  This  place  of  settlement  was  called  afterwards  Dewitt's  BluiF,  and  is 
still  known  by  this  name  on  the  river, 

■j"  This  excellent  and  venerable  lady  died  a  few  years  since,  near  Society 
Hill,  at  a  very  advanced  age.  She  retained  her  physical  vigour  and  mental 
faculties  to  the  last  to  a  very  remarkable  degree.  Her  life  was  one  of  many 
trials,  having  embraced  the  stormy  years  of  the  Revolution. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  99 

Jeanctte  M'Kcarly;  Samuel  married  Ann  Hurry;  and  Daniel, 
a  French  lady  in  Louisiana.  The  daughters  were — INIartha, 
who  died  single ;  Polly,  who  married  John  Crosland ;  Lucy, 
who  married  Alexander  Stubbs,  and  subsequently  Thomas 
Stubbs  ;  and  Sarah,  who  married  William  Pouncey. 

Daniel  Sparks,  the  father,  was  a  noted  Captain  of  Militia  in 
the  llevolution,  and  rendered  valuable  service  to  his  country. 

Edward  Crosland,  who  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources 
as  an  orphan  boy,  came  about  the  year  17G0  from  Virginia 
to  Carolina. 

The  tradition  has  been  handed  down  in  the  family,  that 
he  joined  a  company  of  adventurers  of  about  thirty  persons, 
near  the  middle  of  the  Province,  some  time  before  the  Re- 
volution, for  the  purpose  of  exploring  and  hunting  in  the 
South- West.  The  company,  it  is  said,  went  through  North 
Carolina,  Tennessee,  and  Kentucky,  to  the  Ohio  River, 
thence  to  the  Mississippi ;  and  after  exploring  that  stream  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Missouri,  retraced  their  steps,  and  descended 
the  Mississippi  to  New  Orleans.  A  part  of  the  company  re- 
turned, leaving  their  companions  behind. 

After  returning  to  North  Carolina,  Edward  Crosland 
married  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Sneed,  of  that  State,  and 
settled  near  the  boundary  line ;  acting  chiefly  in  South  Ca- 
rolina during  the  Revolution.  Subsequently,  he  removed  to 
Santee,  and  after  a  few  years,  settled  on  the  Pedee,  near 
Gardiner's  Bluff,  in  what  is  now  Marlborough  District,  where 
he  reared  a  large  family.  His  sons  wei^,  John,  Samuel, 
Daniel  M.,  Israel,  David,  George,  Philip,  and  William.  His 
daughters  were,  Temperance,  Mary,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Re- 
becca, and  Ann.  Not  a  few  of  the  descendants  of  this 
family  are  now  numbered  among  the  respected  citizens  of 
Marlborough. 

The  Websters,  Adams,  and  Fletchers,  came  about  this 
time  from  Virginia  and  Maryland  to  Pedee. 

Tliese  families  have  extensive  connexions  in  MarlboiX)ugh. 
Emanuel  Coxe  settled  lower  down  on  the  river.  He  reared 
a  large  family,  from  which  many  of  the  citizens  of  Marl- 
borough have  descended.  Several  of  this  name  were  among 
the  soldiers  of  the  Revolution.  William  Coxe  was  partis 
cvdarly  noted. 

H  2 


100  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Settlements  were  made  about  tliis  time  on  Lynchers 
Creek^  in  what  is  now  Chesterfield  District. 

Among  the  first  who  came  here,  were  Charles  and  George 
Evans,  of  the  Welch  stock  on  Pedee ;  and  John  Blakeney. 
The  latter  came  from  Ireland,  and  established  himself  as  a 
trader.  He  had  two  sons — William  and  John.  William 
was  the  father  of  the  late  Gen'  J.  W.  Blakeney  of  Ches- 
terfield ;  and  fi'om  these  brothers,  the  large  connexion  in 
that  District  have  descended.  John  Blakeney  was  an  active 
Whig  in  the  Revolution.  His  name  appears  in  the  records 
of  St.  David's  Parish.  Lower  down  on  Lynchers  Creek,  in 
what  is  now  Darlington  District,  were  the  Huggins,  Carters, 
and  others,  well  known  since  in  that  region.  This  settle- 
ment extended  from  the  Effingham  Mills,  a  point  of  note  in 
those  days,  towards  the  Fork  of  Lynchers  Creek. 

The  names  of  Cannon,  Hunter,  Williamson,  Coker,  and 
Pawley,  appear  here.  They  settled  on  Black  Creek,  in  Dar- 
lington, and  were  active  Whigs. 

Colonel  George  Pawley  was  prominent  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  George-town  at  an  earlier  period.  He  is  supposed 
to  have  removed  subsequently  higher  up  the  river,  having 
become  the  owner  of  lands  on  the  east  of  the  Pedee,  above 
Mars  Bluff.  James  Pawley  was  probably  a  son  or  colla- 
teral relative.  He  married  Rebecca  Brockington,  and  after- 
wards a  Miss  Hunter.  Cusack  was  also  a  name  of  a  still 
earlier  settler,  and  destined  to  become  sadly  noted  in  the 
trials  that  awaited  these  infant  settlements.  Lower  down 
on  Jefli'ey's  Creek,  was  Wm.  McDowell.  He  emigrated 
from  Ireland  to  North  Carolina,  and  subsequently  to  this 
region,  bringing  a  family  with  him.^  He  was  a  stanch 
friend  of  his  country,  and  suffered  much  from  the  Tories, 
who  made  frequent  forays  in  this  neighbourhood.  Simon 
Connell  was  one  of  his  companions,  and  a  name  which  ap- 
pears in  favourable  connexion  with  the  struggles  which 
shortly  followed.      He  was  killed  by  the  Tories. 

On  Cat  Fish,   in  what  is  now  Marion  District,  were  the 


*  Mary,  a  daughter  of  William  McDowell,  born  in  1769,  was  surviving  in 
1859,  near  Florence  (Wilmington  and  Manchester  R.  R.).  She  married  Wm. 
Britt  soon  after  the  Revolution.  Her  husband  was  in  the  battle  of  Guilford 
Court  House.     He  died  at  an  advanced  age. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  101 

Cherrys.  George  Cherry  was  noted  iii  tlie  revolutionary 
struggle. 

Higher  up  were  the  Hodges,  than  Avhom  few  families 
gave  a  larger  number  of  soldiers  to  the  eause  of 
liberty.  The  late  Cap""  Geo.  Hodge/  of  Marlborough, 
was  the  last  connecting  liuk  with  that  generation.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  George  Cherry.  Townsend  was  an- 
other family  known  at  this  period.  The  name  of  Light 
Townsend  appears  among  the  records  of  the  Revolution. 
The  family  has  become  extensively  connected  in  ]\Iarl- 
borough.  William  Forniss  was  advanced  in  years  when  the 
war  began,  and  an  ardent  Whig.  The  late  venerable  James 
Forniss,  of  ^Marlborough,  was  a  lineal  descendant.  This  family 
settled  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Welch  Neck,  on  the  river. 
In  the  same  neighbourhood  were  the  Dowues  ;t  and  farther 
out,  on  Crooked  Creek,  were  Samuel  and  Joseph  Dabbs,  the 
first  of  that  name  on  Pedee.  Joseph  Dabbs  married  Han- 
nah Kolb.  His  devotion  to  liberty  was  sealed  with  his 
blood.  His  descendants  are  found  now  in  Darlington.  In 
the  neighbourhood  of  Hunts  Bluff,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  were  the  S^veats,  a  worthy  family,  and  devoted  Whigs. 

Wm.  Sweat,  the  father,  was  an  old  man  when  the 
Revolution  began.  His  sons,  James  and  Nathan,  were 
young  men  at  that  time.  This  was  probably  a  branch  of 
the  family  which  came  with  Gideon  Gibson  from  Virginia. 

The  Quicks,  higher  up  the  river,  are  worthy  of  mention 
among  the  early  settlers  of  that  region.  They  came  from 
Bertie  County,  North  Carolina,  where  the  family  resided  in 
1742. J  Thomas  Cluick  was  one  of  the  brave  Whigs  of  the 
Upper  Pedee. 


*  Captain  Hodge  was  the  maternal  uncle  of  the  late  Judge  Evans. 

■j-  This  name  has  long  since  disappeared. 

j  The  following  is  a  copy  of  one  of  the  relics  of  those  days  : — 
"  North  Carolina,  At   a  Court   begun   and    held    for    said    County   at  the 

Bertie  County.  House  of  John   Collins,  near  Red  Bird,  on  tuesday,  the 

9th  Day  of  November,  Anno  Dom'  1742 ; 

Present,  His  Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  &c.  Personally  came  Thomas 
Quick  of  this  County,  and  in  open  Court  made  oath  on  the  Holy  Evangelists, 
that  his  family  consists  of  six  persons  ; — viz.,  Thomas  Quick,  Ruth  Quick,  Bertha 
Quick,  AnneQuick,  Willis  Quick, &  RachelQuick:  which  is  Ordered  to  be  Certified, 

"  Witness  George  Gould  Esq',  Chairman  of  the  said  Court  at  Bertie,  the 
20th  Day  of  November,  Anno  Dom',  1742. 

"  Dated  at  the  Clerk's  Office  the  20th  «  Geo.  GorLD. 

Day  of  November,  Anno  Dom',  1742.  "  Heney  De  la  Claspeb." 


102  HISTORY   OF  THE   OLD   CHERAWS. 

In  1762,  Evan  Pugh  emigrated  to  tlie  Pedee.  His  an- 
cestors came  from  Wales  to  Pennsylvania,,  where  he  was 
born.  They  were  associated  with  the  Quakers,  and  pro- 
bably constituted  a  part  of  the  colony  of  William  Penn. 
While  he  was  yet  a  boy,  his  father  removed  to  Winchester, 
Virginia.  Upon  arriving  at  manhood,  Mr.  Pugh  became  a 
teacher,  and  acted  in  that  capacity  on  the  Yadkin  River, 
North  Carolina.  "VYhile  there  he  became  a  Bajjtist.  In 
1 762  he  pursued  his  studies  at  Long  Bluflf,  and  was  ordained 
two  years  afterwards. 

Subsequently  he  removed  to  Cashway,  and  took  charge 
of  the  Mount  Pleasant  congregation  in  that  neighbourhood. 
Mr.  Pugh  married  Martha  McGee. 

By  this  marriage  he  had  two  sons  and  a  daughter.  James, 
the  elder  son,  was  the  father  of  the  family  in  Darlington. 
Ezra,  the  younger  son,  died  prematurely  just  after  com- 
mencing life  as  a  lawyer  at  George-town.  Elizabeth,  the 
daughter,  married  Hugh  Lide,  of  Darlington.  Of  the  life 
and  character  of  Rev.  Evan  Pugh,  account  will  be  given 
hereafter.      He  died  in  1802. 

About  this  timC;  Dr.  James  P.  Wilson  came  to  Pedee, 
and  settled  at  Long  Bluff.  He  was  a  native  of  Buck^s  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  educated  at  Carlisle,  in  that  State. 

He  settled  first  as  a  physician  at  Winchester,  Virginia, 
and  remained  there  several  years.  During  his  residence  at 
that  place,  he  married  Martha  Jamison. 

His  children  were  the  late  John  F.  Wilson,  of  Society 
Hill,  who  married  Hannah  Evans ;  Mary,  who  maiTied  Ed- 
ward Burch ;  and  Martha,  who  married  John  Sweeney. 
Dr.  Wilson,  for  many  years,  had  a  large  practice  on  the 
Pedee,  and  was  surgeon  in  Marion^s  Brigade. 

Virginia  continued  to  furnish  valuable  elements  to  the 
growing  population  on  the  Pedee.  Thomas  Powe  emigrated 
from  that  State  about  this  period.  He  married  a  Miss 
Allen,  of  Virginia.  His  children  were  William,  who  mar- 
ried Harriet  Pegnes;  Erasmus,  who  married  Esther  Ellerbe; 
Mary,  who  married  William  Falconer ;  Rachel,  who  married 
Allen  Chapman  ;  Nancy,  who  married  John  Dewitt ;  Alex- 
ander, who  married  Miss  Spencer;  and  Thomas,  who  mar- 
ried Martha  Ellerbe. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  103 

I\Ir.  Powe  settled  first  on  Cedar  Creek,  near  tlie  present 
villoge  of  Society  Hill_,  and  afterwards  removed  to  the 
neighbourliood  just  above  Clieraw  Hill,  where  he  lived  and 
died.  Thomas  Powe  was  a  magistrate  of  note  after  the 
Revolution,  and  was  an  active  and  useful  man  on  the 
Pedee.  His  second  son.  Gen'  Erasmus  Powe,  of  Ches- 
terfield, was  also  a  man  of  much  excellence  and  useful- 
ness in  his  day.  The  widow  of  Thomas  Powe  married 
Calvin  Spencer,  whom  she  survived  many  years. 

The  Godfreys  were  of  English  descent.  This  name  ap- 
pears in  the  early  history  of  Carolina. 

Richard  Godfrey  died  some  years  before  the  Revolution, 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Cheraw.  He  probably  removed  to 
that  locality  late  in  life.  His  sons  were,  William,  Wilson, 
Richard,  and  Thomas,  all  of  whom  were  old  enough  to  take 
part  in  the  struggle  for  liberty.  William  married  a  Miss 
Britton,  in  what  is  now  Marion  district ;  Richard,  a  Miss 
Davis  ;  Wilson  also  married,  and  died  in  Marion ;  Richard 
lived  on  the  river,  at  the  place  since  known  as  Godfrey's 
Perry.  He  was  active  in  the  Revolution.  He  held  several 
jjublic  offices  in  Marion,  and  died  about  1821. 

Thomas  lived  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Cheraw.  He 
married  Nancy,  a  daughter  of  Col.  Geo.  Hicks,  from 
whom  a  large  family  descended,  and  of  which  account  has 
been  given.  Thomas  Godfrey  was  long  connected  with  St. 
David's  parish. 

John  Wilson  emigrated  from  Maryland  to  Pedee  when 
quite  a  young  man.  He  settled  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  opposite  Cheraw,  and  entered  upon  a  successful  career 
as  a  planter.  His  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Col. 
Thomas  Lide.  The  only  surviving  child  of  this  marriage 
was  the  late  Governor  John  Lide  Wilson.^  The  other 
children  died  young.  Of  Mr.  Wilson's  family  by  his 
second  wife,  Charlotte  Hicks,  account  has  been  given.  He 
was  an  active  Whig,  and  prominently  connected  with  St. 
David's  Parish.  His  death  took  place  in  January,  1823, 
Mrs.  Wilson  following  him  in  August  of  the  same  year. 


*  Governor  Wilson  married,  first,  Charlotte,  a  sister  of  Governor  Joseph 
AUstou.  His  second  wife  was  a  Miss  Eden,  of  Philadelphia,  a  ward  of  Aaron 
Burr. 


104  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Lemuel  Benton  emigrated  from  Granville  County,  Nortli 
Carolina,  to  Pedee.  He  settled  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Major  Kimbrough,  and  soon  after  married  his  daughter, 
an  only  child.  The  fruits  of  this  marriage  were  four  sons — 
John,  Lemuel,  Buckley,  and  Alfred.  The  daughters  were, 
Clarissa,  who  married  William  L.  Thomas ;  Charlotte,  who 
married  Laurence  Prince  ;  Grilly,  who  married  Isaiah  Du 
Bose ;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  George  Bruce.  Of  the 
sons,  John  and  Alfred  died  young.  Lemuel  came  also  to 
an  untimely  end.  Buckley  reared  a  family.  The  father,  after- 
wards known  as  Colonel  Benton,  was  a  man  of  very  strongly 
marked  character,  and  will  appear  prominently  hereafter. 

In  1766,  the  lands  on  which  the  present  Town  of  Cheraw 
was  built,  were  granted  to  Eli  Kershaw.  With  a  brother, 
Joseph,  he  set  up  a  large  trading  establishment  at  this 
place.  They  removed,  a  few  years  afterward,  to  Camden, 
where  the  name  has  been  well  known  since. 

William  Henry  Mills,  an  Englishman,  came,  about  this 
time,  to  Pedee,  and  settled  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Long 
Bluff.  He  was  a  physician,  and  a  well-educated  man,  and 
for  a  time  a  prominent  citizen. 

John  Manderson  lived  in  the  lower  part  of  what  is  now 
Chesterfield  District,  and  was  a  man  of  large  means.  He 
left  soon  after  this  period. 

About  this  time  came  Samuel  Wise.  He  emigrated  from 
England  to  Charles-town,  where  he  was  residing  as  a  mer- 
chant in  1766.  A  year  or  two  after,  he  settled  on  the 
Pedee,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  a  short  distance  below 
the  State  line.  Mrs.  Wise,  who  came  with  him,  was  a 
woman  of  marked  traits.  Their  only  child,  a  daughter, 
married  Joseph  Ball,  from  the  lower  part  of  Carolina. 
Samuel  Wise  was  a  man  of  high  character,  and  took  a  pro- 
minent place  in  the  public  service.  He  removed,  during  the 
Revolution,  to  the  Wateree,  where  he  owned  a  valuable  pro- 
perty.     His  career  ended  during  the  war. 

Henry  William  Harrington  emigrated  from  England  to 
the  West  Indies.  After  remaining  a  short  time  at  Jamaica, 
he  came  to  South  Carolina,  and  settled  on  the  Pedee.  He 
took  up  his  residence  first  on  the  river,  opposite  Cheraw 
Hill,  but  soon  after  went  down  to  the  Welch  Neck.    While 


HISTOKY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  105 

living  there^  he  married  Rosanna,  daiigliter  of  Major  James 
Aiild,  of  Ansou  Comity,  North  Carolina.  The  fruits  of 
this  marriage  were,  Rosanna,  who  married  Robert  Troy  ; 
Henry  William  ;^  James  Auld,who  married  Eleanor  Wilson ; 
and  Harriet,  who  married  Belah  Strong.  In  1776,  Mr, 
Harrington  removed  to  Riehmond  County,  North  Carolina, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  thi'ough  life.  Of  his  name 
frequent  mention  will  be  made  in  connexion  with  his  emi- 
nent public  service,  and  devotion  to  his  country.f 

Arthur  Hart,  a  relative  of  General  Harrington,  emigrated, 
about  the  same  time  with  the  former,  from  England.  He 
settled  first  in  Virginia,  and  there  married,  remaining,  how- 
ever, but  a  short  time.  From  Virginia  he  came  to  Pedee, 
and  settled  on  lands  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  Welch  Neck.  His  second  wife  was 
Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Robert  Williams.  This  mar- 
riage took  place  in  1771.  His  third  wife  was  Miss  Irby,  a 
sister  of  Colonel  Charles  Irby.  The  fruits  of  this  marriage 
were  three  children,  James,  Mary,  and  Sarah. 

James  Hart  married  Sarah  Edwards,  of  whom  were  born 
two  sons,  James  and  Thomas  Mary,  the  eldest  daughter, 
married  Richard  Brockington.  Sarah  married  Nicholas 
Rogers.      James  Hart  died  in  1797. 

Arthur  Hart  was  a  man  of  good  property  and  high  re- 
spectability. He  was  an  ardent  Whig,  but  died  before  the 
thickest  of  the  strife,  in  1777. J 

Samuel  Bacot  came  to  the  neig'hbourhood  of  what  is  now 
Darlington  District  in  1769.  His  grandfather,  Pierre  Bacot, 
was  a  native  of  Rochelle,  France,  from  whence  he  fled,  with 
other  Huguenots,  in  1694,  to  Charles-town.  Samuel  Bacot 
married  a  ]\Iiss  Allston,  and  with  her  brother,  Peter  Allston, 
came  to  the  Pedee,  settling  himself  on  Black  Creek^  not  far 


*  To  Colonel  H.  W.  Harrington,  of  Richmond  County,  the  author  is  indebted 
for  much  interesting  traditional  matter,  and  for  valuable  manuscripts  in  con- 
nexion with  the  family  and  the  Revolutionary  era. 

f  The  larger  part  of  the  private  journal  and  other  papers  of  General  Har- 
rington were  unfortunately  destroyed  by  the  Toi-ies  in  one  of  their  plundering 
forays  to  the  neighbourhood  of  his  residence.  A  few  manuscripts  of  interest 
were  preserved. 

X  Arthur  Hart  owned  the  site  of  the  factory  near  Society  Hill,  and  was 
residing  there  at  the  time  of  his  death. 


106  HISTORY  OF   THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

from  the  present  village  of  Darlington.  Mr.  Allston  soon 
removed  to  Waccamaw  Lake^  North  Carolina. 

Samuel  Bacot  was  a  man  of  energy,  a  useful  citizen,  and 
ardent  patriot.  The  late  Samuel  Bacot  and  Cyrus  Bacot, 
of  Darlington,  were  his  sons. 

William  and  Calvin  Spencer  emigrated  from  Connecticut 
to  the  Pedee  a  few  years  before  the  Revolution.  William 
settled  in  Anson  County,  North  Carolina,  and  rose  to  dis- 
tinction in  that  State. 

Calvin  Spencer  was  an  active  Whig  and  useful  man. 
Chesterfield  was  his  permanent  residence. 

About  the  year  1770,  the  name  of  Charles  Augustus 
Steward,  appeared  on  the  Pedee.  He  married*  a  daughter  of 
George  Gabriell  Powell,  a  name  destined  to  become  pro- 
minently connected  with  the  early  history  of  the  Pedee. 
Captain  Steward  removed  to  the  neighbourhoodf  of  Cheraw, 
where  he  became  a  prominent  character,  and  continued  to 
reside. 

John  Mitchell  was  another  name  familiar  at  this  period. 
He  was  a  successful  trader  at  Meldrum,J  near  Cheraw,  but 
left  soon  after,  and  the  name  disappeared  with  him.  His 
sympathies  were  not  with  his  adopted  country,  and  the  dif- 
ficulty grooving  out  of  this  fact  led  to  his  removal. 

The  tide  of  emigration  was  stopped  by  the  troublous 
times  immediately  preceding  the  Revolution,  and  the  trials 
of  that  struggle.  Additions  were  made  to  the  population 
on  the  Pedee  after  the  establishment  of  peace,  of  which 
some  account  will  be  given. 

The  history  of  our  settlements   has  been   brought  down 


*  This  announcement  appeared  in  the  Gazette,  Charles-town,  June  27, 1769 : — 
"On  the  15th  inst.,  was  married,  Charles  Augustus  Steward,  Esq.,  first  Captain 
in  his  Majesty's  21st  Regiment,  to  Miss  Sally  Powell,  Daughter  of  George 
Gabriell  Powell,  Esq.,  of  Prince  George  Parish." 

\  This  was  the  plantation  immediately  below  the  town  of  Cheraw,  and  called 
Fairy  Hill. 

X  Of  the  locality  of  Meldrum,  mentioned  in  the  papers  of  the  day  as  being 
"  near  the  Cheraws,"  the  author,  after  every  effort,  has  been  unable  to  obtain 
any  information  whatever, 

Mr.  Mitchell  is  known  to  have  owned  lands  and  a  plantation  on  Thompson's 
Creek.  Meldrum  was  probably  in  this  neighbourhood,  and  the  name  given  to 
his  place  of  residence. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  107 

througli  a  period  of  ahoxxt  thirty-five  years,  during  wliich, 
with  very  varied  and  valuable  elements,  were  laid  the  foun- 
dations of  future  growth  and  progress.  The  reader  will 
now  be  carried  back  to  take  a  survey  of  other  matters  of 
interest  connected  with  this  stage  in  the  history  of  the 
Pedee. 


108  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Caucasian  race  progressive — Varied  elements  of  population  on  Pedee — Anglo- 
Saxon  predomiuant  —  First  wants  of  settlers  —  Stock  raising  —  Wild 
Stock — First  markets — How  reached — Other  articles  exported — Products 
of  the  soil — Indigo — Its  culture  and  history — Trading  establishments- 
Navigation  of  the  river — Roads  and  early  conveyances — Road  districts 
established — Public  ferry  and  its  regulations — First  grants  of  land — Reser- 
vations and  taxes — Progress  of  the  Province — Of  this  portion  of  it — In- 
crease of  slaves — First  settlements — Where  made — Diseases — Long  Bluff — 
Its  history — Cheraw  Hill — Its  settlement — Planters'  Club — MiUtia  of 
Craven  County — Justices  of  Peace — Social  life — Religious  element  on  Pedee 
— Growth  of  spirit  of  independence — Causes  of  it — Feeling  towards  Earl  of 
Chatham  by  the  colonies — His  statue — Old  medal — Its  history — A  Parochial 
organization  at  hand — The  dawn  of  a  brighter  day  for  the  Pedee. 

The  history  of  the  Caucasian  or  white  race  has  been  one  of 
progress. 

Unlike  other  ancient  and  populous  divisions  of  the  family 
of  man,  which  have  never  advanced  beyond  a  certain  point 
of  improvement,  not  always  remaining  at  that,  this  has 
never  continued  stationary. 

Much  of  course  depends  on  the  peculiar  combination  of 
the  elements  of  which  the  white  race  is  composed — leading 
either  to  a  general  deterioration,  or  to  a  people,  in  their 
diversity  singularly  fitted  to  advance  in  every  department 
of  human  progress.  Such  is  the  Anglo-Saxon,  which  has 
been  most  remarkable  in  its  developments,  and  is  destined 
to  fill  so  large  and  commanding  a  place  in  the  latter  stages 
of  the  world^s  history. 

In  the  first  settlements  on  the  Pedee,  extending  through 
about  one- third  of  a  century,  various  types  of  race  and  cha- 
racter were  represented.  France,  England,  Wales,  Ireland, 
Scotland,  Germany,  and  the  more  northern  provinces  of 
America,  whose  inhabitants  had  been  chiefly  drawn  from 
the  same  sources,  all  contributed  in  their  measure — the 
Welch  element  preponderating   in   the  central  locality,  and 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  109 

destined,  as  will  be  found,  to  give  cliaracter  to  the  commu- 
nities around  it. 

With  our  early  settlers  there  was  every  stimulus  to  exer- 
tion. Their  fortunes  were  yet  to  be  built  up,  ])ut  little 
means,  for  the  most  part,  having  been-  brought  with  them. 
They  found  in  the  fertile  lands  to  whieh  they  eame,  with 
rich  pasturage  and  luxuriant  forests,  all  that  nature  could 
provide  for  the  supply  of  their  first  necessities,,  and  on  the 
bosom  of  the  river  was  presented  an  outlet  for  their  multi- 
plying productions,  as  well  as  a  channel  of  conveyance  for 
ministering  in  turn  to  their  increasing  wants.  Attention 
Avas  first  to  be  turned  to  their  immediate  necessities,  and  to 
the  means  of  intercommunication  with  each  other,  and 
facilities  for  trade.  Lands  were  to  be  cleared,  enclosures 
made,  and  the  soil  developed.  Already  premiums  had  been 
offered  by  Government  to  encourage  the  cultivation  of  cer- 
tain crops,  and  a  ready  market  on  the  coast  aAvaited  their 
superabundant  stores.  Some  of  those  who  came  from  the 
more  northern  provinces  drove  their  horses,  cattle,  and 
hogs^  over  land  with  them."^ 

Large  numbers  of  wild  horses  and  cattle  in  addition 
were  found  by  the  first  settlers  in  the  woods  of  Carolina. 
!Many  were  caught  and  domesticated,  and  stock-raising  at 
once  became  a  prolific  source  of  wealth.  Most  of  the  early 
fortunes  on  the  Pedee  were  made  in  this  way.  Energy, 
rather  than  capital,  was  required  in  the  first  instance,  and 
but  little  labour  demanded  afterward.  Everywhere  in  those 
days,  on  the  hills  and  in  the  valleys,  the  best  ranges  were 
found,  and  it  was  only  necessary  to  drive  the  stock  from 
place  to  place  in  search  of  fresh  pasturage,  as  the  supply 
became  exhausted.  The  numbers  owned  by  single  indi^d- 
duals,  and  thus  driven  about,  were  very  large,  almost 
incredibly  so  to  those  accustomed  to  the  condition  of 
things  in  this  respect  now  existing  in  the  older  States.  It 
was  in  this  kind  of  life,  habituated  to  the  use  of  the  saddle 
in  the  woods  for  days  and  weeks  together,  often  in  the  dan- 
gerous adventures  of  the  chase,  that  our  early  settlers 
became    such    expert   horsemen,    and    so    inured   to    expo- 


*  Ramsay's  "  History  of  So.  Ca.,"  vol.  ii.  p.  274'. 


110  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

sure  and  hardship  as  to  meet  successfully  the  extraordinary 
demands  of  that  protracted  struggle  which  was  soon  to 
overtake  them. 

The  wild  stock  was  captured  by  the  simple  contrivance 
of  a  large  and  well-secured  pen  in  the  fork  of  two  branches, 
or  larger  streams,  into  which  the  frightened  and  over- 
powered animal  was  driven.  In  some  cases,  where  the 
branches  were  boggy,  and  could  not  be  entered,  a  fence 
was  built  across,  some  distance  above  the  point  of  junction, 
and  this  was  the  only  enclosure  required.  Some  of  our 
smaller  streams  are  yet  found  to  retain  the  name,  "  horse- 
pen,"  indicating  that  they  were  made  to  subserve  the  pur- 
pose mentioned.  The  stock  was  driven  to  Charles-town 
and  other  places  on  the  coast,  as  well  as  to  more  distant 
markets.  Large  numbers  of  cattle  were  sent  from  Pedee 
to  Philadelphia."^ 

Pork  soon  became  a  valuable  article  of  export.  In  the 
course  of  time,  "  Cheraw  bacon  "  was  destined  to  be  famous 
in  distant  parts  of  the  country.  Lumber  was  also  sent  off 
in  large  quantities,  saw-mills  having  been  erected  at  different 
points  soon  after  the  first  settlements. f 

The  "  Effingham  Mills,"  in  what  is  now  Darlington 
District,  are  mentioned  early,  as  well  as  others  more  imme- 
diately contiguous  to  the  river. J 

*  It  is  related  of  Malachi  Murphy,  who  drove  many  beeves  annually  to 
Philadelphia,  that  on  one  occasion  was  a  famous  beast,  called  "  Blaze  Face,"  of 
great  size  and  unusual  sagacity,  which  he  sold  in  Philadelphia. 

On  the  night  of  his  return  home  to  Pedee,  and  soon  after  his  arrival,  he  heard 
the  low  of  Blaze  Face.  He  had  escaped  and  followed  close  upon  the  track  of 
his  owner,  swimming  rivers  and  distancing  all  pursuers.  Mr.  Murphy  drove  him 
a  second  time  to  Philadelphia,  and  again  he  returned.  Such  a  spirit  was  worthy 
of  a  better  fate,  but  did  not  shield  the  bold  rover.  He  was  taken  a  third  time 
to  Philadelphia,  and  came  back  no  more.  This  was  related  to  the  author  by  the 
late  John  D.  Withirspoon,  of  Society  Hill. 

■f-  The   prices   of  some   leading   articles  of  trade  in    Charles-town  at  this 
period  will  give  some  idea  of  the  remuneration  received  by  the  settlers : — 
(From  Gazette  of  the  day.)     Nov.  1, 1739. 
Rice,  Z2,s.  to  33*.  9d.  per  cwt.  Pitch,  40*.  per  cwt. 

Turpentine,  20s.  per  cwt.  Tar,  30s.  per  cwt.         Skins,  l&s.  to  19s.  per  cwt. 

Indian  corn,  7s.  Q>d.  to  10s.  per  cwt. 
July  16,  1741. 
Rice,  3/.  per  cwt.  Skins,  16s.  Qd.  per  lb.  Pitch,  55s.  per  barrel. 

Tar,  45s.  per  barrel.  Indian  corn,  30s.  per  bushel. 

Turpentine,  22s.  Qd.  per  bushel.  Indian  Peas,  30s.  per  bushel. 

%  The  following  notices,  which  appeared  in  the   Gazette,  Charles-town,  a 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  Ill 

Hemp  and  flax  did  not  prove  to  be  such  profitable  crops 
as  the  Welch  at  first  anticipated,  and  were  not  much  raised. 
Neither  the  soil  nor  climate  were  well  adapted  to  their  pro- 
duction. For  hemp,  particularly,  very  rich  land,  of  a 
peculiar  quality,  was  required.  Wheat  and  corn  were 
found  more  valuable,  especially  the  latter.  Indigo,  how- 
ever, proved  to  be  the  most  lucrative  crop.  The  rich  lands 
on  the  river  were  admirably  adapted  to  its  production,  more 
so  than  those  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  Province  near  the 
coast. 

"About  the  year  1745,"  we  are  informed,  "the  fortu- 
nate discovery  was  made  that  this  plant  (indigo)  grew  spon- 
taneously in  the  Province,  and  was  found  almost  everywhere 
among  the  wild  weeds  of  the  forest." 

As  the  soil  naturally  yielded  a  weed  which  furnished  the 
world  with  so  useful  and  valuable  a  dye,  it  loudly  called  for 
cultivation  and  improvement. 

For  this  purpose,  some  indigo  seed  was  imported  from 
the  French  West  Indies,  where  it  had  been  cultivated  with 
great  success,  and  yielded  the  planters  immense  profit.  At 
first  the  seed  was  planted  by  way  of  experiment,  and  it  was 
found  to  answer  the  most  sanguine  expectations.  In  conse- 
quence of  which,  several  planters  turned  their  attention  to 
its  culture,  and  studied  the  art  of  extracting  the  dye  from 
it.  Every  trial  brought  them  fresh  encouragement.  In  the 
year  1747,  a  considerable  quantity  of  it  was  sent   to  Eng- 


few  years  after,  will  give  some  idea  of  the  progress  which  had  been  made  in 
this  department  of  industrial  enterprise : — - 

"  Notice  by  John  Manderson. 

"  To  be  sold  at  Private  Sale,  the  Subscriber's  three  saw-mills  and  grist  mill 
on  Big  and  Little  Cedar  Creek.  60,000  feet  lumber  have  been  carried  by 
2  hands  on  one  raft  to  George-town — most  populous  part  Cheraws  District — 
1 5  hands  of  the  Chickasaw  and  English  breed, 

«  Sept.  ntJi,  1777." 

"  May  6t7i,  1778.  Valuable  Saw  and  Grist  Mills  on  Juniper  Creek,  4  miles 
below  Cheraw  Hill,  with  a  bolting  mill — also  a  bolting  mill,  distance  2  or  3 
miles  to  Cheraw,  where  the  Church  is. 

"  Timber  may  be  rafted  from  pier  head  of  lowest  mill  in  small  Kafts  to  the 
River,  it  being  not  more  than  4  miles  from  the  mill  to  the  River  down  the 
Creek,  and  3  by  land, — where  the  rafts  are  joined  to  carry  down  to  George- 
town, and  has  generally  been  done  in  Rafts  containing  from  30  to  40,000  feet 
in  5  days,  the  distance  from  George-town  by  land  is  90  miles, — by  Jacob 
Valk,  Charles-Town." 


112  HISTORY   OF   THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

land,  whicli  induced  the  mercliants  trading  to  Carolina  to 
petition  Parliament  for  a  bounty  on  Carolina  indigo.  This 
petition  from^the  merchants  was  followed  by  another  from  the 
planters  and  inhabitants  of  Carolina.  Accordingly  an  Act 
of  Parliament  was  passed,  about  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1748,  for  allowing  a  bounty  of  sixpence  per  pound  on  all 
indigo  raised  in  the  British  American  plantations,  and  im- 
ported dii'ectly  into  Britain  from  the  place  of  its  growth.'^ 
It  was  sent  by  oiu'  farmers  to  Charles-town,  and  sometimes 
to  London,t  and  occasionally  to  markets  in  the  neighbouring 
colonies.  The  amount  of  indigo  exported  from  South  Ca- 
rolina, in  1754,  was  216,924  pounds. J 

Fortunes  were  made  rapidly  by  its  cultivation.  §  It 
brought  at  one  time  from  four  to  five  dollars  per  pound. 
Traces  of  the  old  indigo  vats  are  to  be  seen  here  and  there 
on  the  Pedee.  Its  cultivation  ceased  about  the  close  of  the 
century,  or  soon  after. 

Higher  up  the  river,  in  North  Carolina,  it  was  followed 
by  tobacco,  which  became  the  principal  export,  and,  for  a 
time,  the  chief  circulating  medium.  || 

.  Some  of  the  first  settlers  established  themselves  as 
traders,  chiefly  on  the  river.  Cheraw  Hill,  Long  Bluff",  and 
Hunt's  Bluff"  were  points  of  note  for  trade.  The  navigation 
of  the  river  commenced  with  the  arrival  of  the  colonists,  as 
at  Sandy  Bluff",  who  are  said  to  have  come  up  in  boats.  As 
early  as  1740,  the  na^agation  was  open  from  Cheraw  down. 
There  were  serious  obstructions,  however,  which  became  the 
subject  of  legislation  in  after  years,  and  with  the  aid  of 
individual  energy  and  enterprise,  were  gradually  removed. 
The  subject  of  roads,  bridges,  and  ferries  claimed  the  early 

*  Ramsay's  "  History  S.  C."  vol.  ii.  pp.  138,  139. 

t  The  account  sales  of  one  cask  intligo  shipped  to  London  from  the  Pedee 
in  1766,  shows  that  it  commanded  2*.  3d.  per  pound,  amounting  to  371.  4«.  Sd. 
The  bounty  on  it  was  31.  12s.  Ad.  The  total  expense  of  the  shipment  from 
Charles-town  was  31.  6s.  M. 

X  Ramsay's  "  History,"  p.  191. 

§  As  an  illustration  of  the  value  of  the  crop,  it  may  be  mentioned  that 
General  Hari'ington  sent  three  four-horse  waggon  loads  to  Virginia,  and  with 
the  proceeds  of  the  sale  bought  from  fifteen  to  twenty  negroes. 

II  Where  it  was  raised  above  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  river,  tobacco  was 
carried  off  to  market  in  hogsheads,  weighing  from  1000  to  1400  lbs.  The  hogs- 
heads were  strongly  hooped,  and  with  an  axle  and  felloes  of  pine  to  prevent  the 
middle  from  being  injured,  drawn  by  two  horses. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  113 

attention  of  the  settlers.  Highways  were  to  be  established 
for  travel  and  transportation.  The  first  roads,  rough  cor- 
duroys, were  just  wide  enough  to  admit  the  passage  of  a 
kind  of  vehicle  common  then,  called  a  sled.  It  was  of 
simple  construction,  but  indispensable  at  that  early  day, 
when  something  better  was  not  to  be  had.  It  required  but 
two  side  pieces  of  oak,  with  the  ends  turned  up  in  front, 
and  confined  together,  about  four  feet  apart,  by  cross  pieces 
securely  tenanted  into  them.  Thus,  rough-hewn  and  expedi- 
tiously put  together,  this  simple  conveyance  was  ready  for  use. 
With  it,  rails  were  hauled  for  fencing,  wood  for  fuel,  and 
logs  and  other  materials  for  cabins.  By  the  addition  of  a 
box  for  a  body,  the  corn  and  other  products  of  the  field  were 
carried  to  the  barn,  and  families  often  to  places  of  gather- 
ing. But  these  could  not  long  continue  to  supply  the 
growing  demands  of  an  advancing  population.  Better  roads 
and  better  conveyances  were  to  be  provided.  Accordingly, 
in  1747,  we  find  the  first  effort  made  in  this  direction.*  An 
Act  was  passed  in  that  year  by  the  Commons  House  of 
Assembly,  of  which  the  preamble  was  in  these  words : — 
"  Whereas  the  Upper  Settlements  on  Pedee,  Waccamaw,- 
and  Black  Rivers  are  very  extensive  and  remote  from  each 
other,  by  reason  whereof  it  will  be  convenient  to  divide  the 
same  into  several  districts,  under  several  sets  of  Commis- 
sioners, to  the  end  that  the  making  and  repairing  of  high- 
ways and  causeways  in  those  parts  may  be  better  attended 
to  and  performed,^^  &c. 

It  was  accordingly  enacted,  "  That  the  Parts  situate  upon 
or  near  to  Pedee,  Waccamaw,  and  Black  Rivers,^'  should  be 
di\'ided  into  five  districts.  Of  these,  the  third  district  was 
to  embrace  the  settlements  on  the  eastern  side  of  Great 
Pedee  River,  extending  from  the  Province  line  south-east- 
ward to  Cat  Fish  Creek;  and  William  Colt,  William  James, 
Abraham  Col  son,  ^Nlalachi  Murphy,  and  Jacob  Buckholt, 
were  appointed  Commissioners  of  Highways  for  the  said 
district.  The  fourth  district  embraced  the  lands  "  situate 
on  the  south-west  side  of  Great  Pedee  River,  from  Lynchers 
Creek  south-westward  to  the  bounds  of  the   Pi'ovince  :  and 


*  "  Statutes  at  Large  of  So.  Ca.,"  vol.  ix.  p.  144. 


114  HISTOEY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

James  Gillespie,  Francis  Young,  Jolin  Dexter,  Samuel  De 
Sorrency,  and  Thomas  Elleby,  were  appointed  Commis- 
sioners/^ 

By  the  same  Act,  the  Commissioners  were  directed  to 
meet  at  such  places  in  their  respective  districts  as  the 
majority  should  appoint,  twice  a  year — viz.,  on  Easter 
Monday  and  the  first  Monday  in  August,  for  the  despatch 
of  business. 

They  were  to  establish  ferries  as  well  as  highways.  For 
some  years  after  this,  no  further  legislation  was  needed.  It 
was  not  until  1768  that  another  Act  was  passed,  establish- 
ing a  public  ferry  "  at  the  lands  of  James  James,  in  the 
Welch  Tract,  on  the  South  East  side  of  Great  Pedee  River, 
in  the  Parish  of  Prince  George,  opposite  to  Cedar  Creek, 
which  is  on  the  South  West  side  of  the  said  river,  in  the 
Parish  of  St.  Mark,  on  the  lands  of  the  said  James  James, 
and  to  land  on  either  side  of  the  said  creek ;"  "  the  said 
ferry  to  be  vested  in  the  said  James  James,  his  heirs,  &c.,  for 
the  term  of  fourteen  years.^^  The  rates  of  ferriage  were  : 
"  For  every  single  person,  one  shilling  and  three  pence ;  for 
a  horse  and  chair,  or  a  horse  and  cart,  five  shillings ;  for  a 
four  wheel  carriage,  with  five  horses,  twenty  shillings  ;  for 
neat  cattle,  ferried  or  swum,  seven  pence  half  penny  in  the 
current  money  of  the  Province." 

"  All  Ministers  of  the  Gospel,  all  persons  going  to  and 
from  Church  Service,  and  muster  of  Militia,  and  all  persons 
in  time  of  alarm,  and  all  Expresses  or  Messengers  sent  in 
the  service  of  the  Government,  and  free  Indians  in  amity 
with  the  Government,''''  were  to  be  free  from  toll. 

"  Abel  Wilds,  David  Evans,  James  James,  Alexander 
Mackintosh,  John  Kimbrough,  Thomas  Evans,  George 
Hicks,  Thomas  James,  and  John  Mackintosh,  were  ap- 
pointed Commissioners  for  laying  out,  making  and  keeping 
in  repair,  a  road  from  the  North-east  side  of  the  above- 
mentioned  ferry,  to  lead  down  the  country  into  the  public 
road ;  and  likewise  a  road  to  lead  from  the  upper  side  of 
the  above-mentioned  creek;  and  also  a  road  to  lea'd  from 
the  lower  side  of  the  above-mentioned  creek,  into  the  public 
road  which  leads  down  the  country." 

This  was  the  second  Act  passed  on  the  subject  of  roads 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  115 

and  ferries  for  this  part  of  the  Province,  and  no  other  ap- 
pears  for  sixteen  years  following. 

Some  of  the  earlier  land  grants  contained  several  curious 
pri\ileges,  reservations,  and  conditions. 

In  a  grant  of  land  in  the  Welch  Tract,  dated  1750,  after 
the  usual  form,  8cc.,  it  is  added ;  "  together  with  privilege 
of  hunting.  Hawking,  and  Fowling,  in  and  upon  the  same, 
and  all  Mines  and  Minerals  whatsoever ;  Saving  and  Reserv- 
ing, nevertheless,  to  us,  our  Heirs  and  Successors,  all  white 
Pine  Trees,  if  any  there  should  be  found  growing  thereon  : 
and  also  Saving  and  Reserving  to  us,  our  Heirsand  Successors, 
one-tenth  part  of  Mines  of  Silver  and  Gold  only.^'  Also  it 
was  provided,  that  the  grantees  "  should  clear  and  cultivate  at 
the  rate  of  one  acre  for  every  Five  Hundred  Acres  of  Land,  and 
so  in  proportion  accprding  to  the  quantity  of  Acres  contained 
therein  ;  or,  build  a  Dwelling  House  thereon,  and  keep  a  stock 
of  Five  Head  of  Cattle  for  every  Five  Hundred  Acres,  upon  the 
same,  and  in  Proportion  for  a  greater  or  lesser  quantity." 

It  was  also  provided,  that  "  on  every  Twenty  Fifth  Day  of 
March,  the  said  Grantee,  his  Heirs,  &c.,  should  pay  to  the 
Receiver- General  of  the  ProAance,  or  to  his  Deputy,  or 
Deputies,  for  the  time  being,  at  the  Rate  of  Three  Shillings 
Sterling,  or  Four  Shillings  Proclamation  Money,  for  every 
Hundred  Acres,  &c." 

This  was  one  of  the  tokens  and  acknowledgments  of  a 
subjection  under  which  the  Colonists  had  even  now  become 
restive.  As  a  source  of  revenue  to  the  Crown"^  simply,  it 
was  less  objectionable. 

"  Few  countries,'^  it  is  said, ''  have  at  any  time  exhibited  so 
striking  an  instance  of  pu.blic  and  private  prosperity  as  ap- 
peared in  South  Carolina  between  the  years  1763  and  1775. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  Province  were  in  that  short  space  of 

*  Tlie  following  is  a  specimen  of  the  payment,  by  way  of  crown  tax,  thus 
required : — 

"  South  Carolina. 

"  Received,  the  Thirteenth  Day  of  August,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  Thousand  seven  Hundred  and  Sixty  four,  of  Philip  Pledger 
and  Jesse  Councill,  the  sum  of  Ten  pounds,  sixteen  shillings,  Proclamation  money; 
being  for  Eighteen  years  quit-rent  due  to  the  Crown,  the  Twenty  Fifth  Day  of 
jNIarch  last,  for  Three  hundred  Acres  of  Land  held'by  them,  and  situated  in 
Craven  County.      I  say,  received  for  the  use  of  his  Majesty,  by 

"  Alex.  Mackintosh, 
"  £10  16*.  Od."  "  Deputy  Receiver. 

1  2 


116  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

time  more  than  doubled.  Wealth  poured  in  upon  them 
from  a  thousand  channels.  The  fertility  of  the  soil  gene- 
rally repaid  the  labour  of  the  husbandman,  making  the  poor 
to  sing,  and  industry  to  smile  through  every  corner  of  the 
land.  None  were  indigent  but  the  idle  and  uofortunate. 
Personal  independence  was  fully  within  the  reach  of  every 
man  who  was  healthy  and  industrious.  The  inhal^itants,  at 
peace  with  all  the  world,  enjoyed  domestic  tranquillity,  and 
were  secure  in  their  persons  and  property.  They  were  also 
completely  satisfied  with  their  Government,  and  wished  not 
for  the  smallest  change  in  their  political  constitution."^* 
This  glowing  account  of  the  general  condition  of  the  Pro- 
vince was  literally  true  of  the  upper  parts  of  the  Pedee. 
Nowhere  else  were  the  leading  elements  of  prosperity 
more  vigorously  operative.  As  an  illustration  of  the  pro- 
gress made  by  the  settlers  in  these  parts  in  manufactures, 
the  following  extract  will  suffice.  It  appeared  in  the 
Gazette,  Charles-town,  Dec.  22,  1768. 

"A  gentleman  of  St.  David's  Parish,  in  this  Province, 
writes  to  his  correspondent  in  Charles-town  :  '  I  expect  to 
see  our  own  manufactures  much  promoted  in  this  part  of 
the  Province.  I  send  you  some  samples  of  what  hath  been 
already  done  upon  this  River  and  in  this  Parish,  The 
sample  of  white  cotton  was  made  in  the  proportion  of 
twelve  yards  to  one  pound  of  cotton.  Hemp,  Flax,  and 
Cotton  may  be  raised  here  in  any  quantity ;  as  to  wool,  one 
cannot  have  much  of  it.' " 

To  this,  the  Editor  of  the  Gazette  added  : — "  The  num- 
ber of  samples  mentioned  above  is  eleven,  which  the  curious 
may  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing,  by  enquiring  of  any 
one  of  the  young  men,  at  the  Great  Stationery  and  Book 
Shop."''  Where,  or  by  whom,  these  samples  were  produced, 
is  not  known.  Cotton  was  not  much  cultivated  for  many 
years  after  this.  Another  notice  appeared  in  the  Gazette 
of  March  2,  1769,  to  this  effect :— "  Many  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  North  and  Eastern  Parts  of  this  Province  have  this 
winter  clothed  themselves  in  their  own  manufactures  ;  many 
more  woidd  purchase  them  if  they  could  be  got,  &c." 


*  Ramsay's  "  History  Revolution  in  So.  Ca.,"  vol.  i.  p.  7. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  117 

Ouc  of  the  drawbacks  experienced,  was  iu  the  droughts 
which  sometimes  prevailed  for  months  together,  and  with 
great  severity.  This  was  the  case  in  1752,  and  again  in 
1769,  as  was  stated  in  the  Gazette  of  July  5th  of  that 
year,  viz.  : — "  That  there  was  a  great  drought  in  the  Pro- 
vince, and  to  the  North-Eastward,  as  far  as  Virginia — none 
such  having  been  known  since  that  of  175.2.  Drivers  of  cattle 
to  Charles-town  have  to  dig  fifteen  feet  for  water."  Mention 
has  been  made  of  the  increasing  number  of  slaves.  This 
began  to  be  the  case  almost  immediately  after  the  first 
settlements.  The  prices  paid  about  this  time  indicate  the 
extent  of  the  demand.  In  1762,  a  woman,  with  two  chil- 
dren, a  girl  and  boy,  sold  for  477  pounds  current  money. 
In  the  following  year,  the  same  prices  were  given.  Some 
of  the  first  settlers  brought  their  slaves  with  them.  The 
labour  of  the  negro  was  found  to  be  indispensable  on  the 
river  low-lands  to  which  the  first  clearings  for  a  time  were 
almost  exclusively  confined.  The  first  settlements  were  for 
the  most  part  made  immediately  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
at  elevated  points,  where  good  springs  of  water  were  to  be 
found.  Such  a  position  experience  has  proved  to  be 
healthier  than  the  intermediate  swamps  between  the  river 
and  the  high  land,  or  even  than  the  latter,  when  contiguous 
to  the  swamps.  At  first  the  emigrant  from  more  northern 
latitudes,  or  healthier  climes,  did  not  experience  any  serious 
effects  from  a  residence  in  the  miasmatic  regions  of  the 
south.  It  was  only  after  the  clearings  began,  that  diseases 
appeared,  except  the  fever  and  ague,  Avhich  Avere  known  from 
the  first.  This,  however,  was  more  troublesome  and  enervat- 
ing than  dangerous.  When  openings  were  made,  and  the 
rich  alluvial  soils  and  stagnant  waters  became  exposed  to 
the  sun,  the  inhabitants  began  to  suffer  more  severely  from 
bilious  and  other  more  fatal  forms  of  fever.  The  planters 
were  consequently  driven  from  their  swamp  homes  to 
healthier  localities. 

In  addition  to  all  this,  it  is  a  well-established  fact  in  the 
history  of  the  diseases  incident  to  rich  alluvial  bottoms,  that 
a  season  marked  by  certain  atmospherical  changes,  or  other 
unusual  atmospheric  phenomena,  may  give  rise  to  types  of 
fever  of  the  most  malignant  character.      During  the  months 


118  HISTOEY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

of  June,  July,  and  August,  1752,  the  heat  in  Carolina  is 
said  to  have  been  oppressive  to  a  degree  never  felt  before."^ 
Such  seasons,  doubtless,  had  much  to  do,  when  recurring, 
with  changes  of  residence.  The  removal  of  the  planters  from 
the  east  side  of  the  river  in  the  Welch  Neck  formed  the  germ 
of  a  settlement  at  the  Long  Blufff  on  the  west,  in  what  is 
now  the  District  of  Darlington.  As  early  as  20th  Dec, 
1748,  Saml.  Wilds,  who  had  settled  a  little  below  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  petitioned  Council  "  for  100  acres 
of  land  across  Pedee,  stating  he  was  a  settler  in  the  Welch 
Tract,  on  lands  he  purchased  about  five  years  ago,  which  is 
low  and  often  overflowed — that  there  was  a  Plot  of  vacant 
land  opposite  his  across  the  Eiver  Pedee,  which  was  high 
land,  and  which,  for  the  health  of  his  family,  he  desired  to 
settle."  His  petition  was  gTanted.  The  land  here  referred 
to  is  situated  a  little  below  the  Long  Bluff.  To  this  period 
we  may  refer  the  beginning  of  the  community  at  the  latter 
point,  which  continued  to  increase,  with  accessions  to  its 
population  from  other  quarters.  In  a  few  years  it  became 
a  place  of  some  importance.  It  had  the  advantage  of  being 
central  and  accessible.  It  was  immediately  on  the  river, 
and  though  exposed  to  the  miasma  from  the  extensive  sAvamp 
across,  continued  for  many  years  to  be  comparatively 
healthy.  The  public  highway  leading  from  Cheraw  HiU  to 
George-town  passed  near  it. J 

The  settlement  at  Cheraw  Hill  also  continued  to  advance 
for  the  like  reasons  in  part,  but  chiefly  because  of  its  note 
as  a  point  for  trade.  Being  at  the  head  of  navigation  on 
the  river,  with  an  extensive  and  fertile  country  to  be  de- 
veloped^ and  mainly  dependant  on  it  for  supplies,  its  location 
was  peculiarly  advantageous.  The  land  on  which  the  town 
is  built  was  granted  to  Eli  Kershaw  in  1766. 

About  the  same  time  it  was  laid  out  by  the  Kershaws,§ 


*  "Ramsay,"  ii.  p.  179. 

f  So  called  from  its  being  one  of  the  longest  bluffs  on  the  river,  extending 
without  break  for  about  three  miles. 

X  The  Cheraw  and  Darlington  R.  R.  runs  for  a  short  distance  along  this  old 
track,  from  a  point  opposite  Long  Bluff",  up. 

§  The  following  notice,  which  appeared  in  the  Gazette,  Charles-town,  shows 
that  the  Kersliaws  left  a  few  years  after  this : — 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  119 

Eli  and  Joseph,  with  others.  It  was  a  few  years  after,  proba- 
bly in  1775  for  the  first  time,  called  Chatham,  in  honour  of 
the  first  Earl  of  that  name,  which  it  bore  until  its  incorpo- 
ration long  afterward.  It  did  not  advance  much  in  growth, 
but  few  families  being  attracted  to  it  as  a  place  of  residence. 
As  late  as  1 792  it  is  said  to  have  contained  not  more  than 
a  dozen  dwelling-houses. 

Among  other  signs  of  progress  was  the  formation,  as 
early  at  least  as  1768,  of  the  "Planter's  Club,''  or  "  Society," 
as  it  was  otherwise  called.  It  was  often  alluded  to  in  a 
private  journal  of  the  time,  and  is  supposed  to  have  em- 
braced the  principal  planters  on  the  river  above  the  Welch 
Neck. 

It  was  probably  formed  for  social  purposes  chiefly,  after 
the  manner  of  the  "  Clubs''  which  had  been  in  existence 
before,  and  were  then  so  well-known  in  the  lower  parts  of 
the  Province.  Committees  were  appointed  for  the  transac- 
tion of  business,  and  meetings  frequently  held.  On  one 
occasion — an  anniversary,  perhaps — a  sermon  was  preached 
before  it  by  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Bedgegood.  It  continued  in 
existence  until  the  Revolution. 

Not  much  attention  had  yet  been  paid  to  military  mat- 
ters in  the  interior  of  the  Province.  A  small  banding 
together  of  neighbourhoods  against  the  Indians,  appears  to 
have  been  all  that  was  demanded.  George  Pawley  was 
Colonel  of  the  Craven  County  Regiment  in  1744.  Soon 
after  this  militia  companies  were  formed  in  the  upper  parts 
of  the  Pedee.      Philip    Pledger  was   commissioned    Captain 

«  Sale. 
"  1774.     On  Wednesday,  the  16th  day  of  Nov.  next,  and  the  following  days, 
at  the  Conrt  House,  at  Long  Bluff,  will  be  sold, 

"  That  valuable  Plantation,  called  Liberty  Hill,  and  all  their  other  Lands,  at 
and  near  Cheraw  Hill,  on  Pedee  River,  together  with  their  Store  Houses,  Mills, 
remaining  stock  of  store  goods,  and  about  fifty  valuable  negroes,  employed  in 
carrying  on  their  business  at  Chatham,  under  the  firm  of  Eli  Kershaw  and  Co. 
The  whole  being  to  be  sold  in  order  to  make  a  final  settlement  of  the  copartner- 
ship which  lately  subsisted  between  the  subscribers.  Twelve  months  credit  will 
be  given,  if  required,  upon  all  sums  above  one  hundred  pounds,  on  paying  in- 
terest from  the  day  of  sale,  giving  such  security  as  shall  be  approved  of  by 

"  Joseph  Keesiiaw, 
"  .John  Chesnut, 
"  Eli  Kershaw, 
"  William  Ancrum, 
"  Aaeon  Loocock." 


120  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

in  his  Majesty's  Service  in  1756.  George  Hicks  and 
Thomas  Loyd  were  Captains  in  1762^  and  Alexander  Mack- 
intosh in  1765.  In  January  1748  the  Craven  County 
Regiment  consisted  of  1200  men.  The  first  General 
Militia  Review  for  the  upper  Pedee  was  ordered  in  1759  by 
George  Pawley,  Adj*-  Gen'v,  beginning  with  George-town^ 
Oct.  4th  ;  Mars  Bluff,  Oct.  11th,  and  Westfield  on  Pedee* 
Saturday,  October  15th.  The  only  military  organization  in 
the  Province  prior  to  this  time,  and  going  back  as  far  as 
1703,  consisted  of  companies,  battalions,  and  regiments. 
The  Act  of  1747,  which  was  continued  by  Act  of  1753  for 
two  years,  and  revived  and  continued  by  Act  of  1759,  pro- 
vided for  the  calling  and  assembling  of  all  persons  from  six- 
teen to  sixty  years  of  age,  and  to  be  formed  into  companies, 
troops,  and  regiments.  It  was  not  until  1778  that  brigades 
were  established. 

The  earliest  list  of  Justices  of  the  Peace,  embracing  the 
upper  part  of  Craven  County,  appeared  in  1756,  when  George 
Hicks  and  Abraham  Buckholts  were  appointed.  In  1761 
Alexander  Mackintosh  was  added,  and  in  1767  Claudius 
Pegnes. 

A  generous  hospitality  and  unrestrained  social  intercourse 
were  strikingly  characteristic  of  this  period.  The  sparse- 
ness  of  the  population  and  the  few  public  occasions  which 
there  were  to  bring  the  people  together,  made  our  early 
settlers  more  dependent  on  each  other  for  whatever  of 
pleasure  and  excitement  social  intercourse  could  afford. 
Hence,  every  house  was  open.  A  cordial  greeting  awaited 
the  visitor.  He  might  prolong  his  stay  without  danger  of 
becoming  an  annoyance.  A  social  bore  was  scarcely  known. 
The  news,  from  whatever  quarter,  when  it  reached  the 
settlements,  was  thoroughly  discussed  and  well  digested.  As 
we  look  back  upon  them  from  a  more  conventional  age,  we 
are  tempted  to  exclaim,  Happy  were  the  days  of  which 
so  much  in  this  respect  could  be  said.  It  was  fortunate 
for  the  healthy  progress  of  the  settlements  on  the  Pedee,  that 
in  the  central  and  most  important  of  them  all,  the  religious 
element  so  largely  prevailed. 


*  This  was  near  Cheraw  Hill. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  121 

There  the  simple  and  unobtrusive,  yet  sturdy  and  manly 
virtiies  which  the  Welch  Christians  brought  with  them, 
were  found  in  active  operation.  How  much,  in  the  end, 
other  neighbouring  communities  were  indebted  to  their 
sahitary  induence,  it  would  be  difficult  to  estimate. 

That  they  continued  to  operate,  and  to  form  a  public 
sentiment  of  a  sound  and  elevated  character,  there  is  abun- 
dant evidence.  And  in  this,  as  in  the  virtuous  influence 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  mingled  elements  of  population 
from  whatever  sources  entering  in,  was  found  the  germ  of 
that  steady  intellectual  and  moral  advancement,  of  which 
the  happiest  indications  afterward  appeared. 

Even  the  troublous  times  of  the  Revolution  could  not 
altogether  repress  this  spirit,  as  will  be  found  in  tracing 
the  subsequent  marks  of  its  progress. 

Another  feeling,  however,  was  now  beginning  to  take 
possession  of  the  hitherto  peaceful  dwellers  on  the  Pedee. 
Attached  as  the  people  of  the  Province  had  ever  been  to 
the  Crown,  they  still  rejoiced  in  their  connexion  wnth  the 
Mother  Country,  and  in  being  subjects  of  the  same  king. 

Up  to  this  time  there  had  been  no  special  cause,  except 
the  want  of  courts  of  their  own,  for  dissatisfaction  with  the 
Royal  Government  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  Carolina,  as 
was  the  case  in  some  other  of  the  colonies.  Though  essential 
changes  had  been  made  in  the  commercial  system  of  the 
colonies  for  preventing  a  contraband  trade  with  the  French 
and  Spaniards,  and  for  enlarging  the  powers  of  the  Courts 
of  Admiralty,  creating  great  uneasiness  in  some  parts  of 
the  continent ;  the  Carolinas,  whose  commerce  was  carried 
on  agreeably  to  the  British  laws  of  trade  and  navigation, 
were  very  little  aflPeeted  by  these  innovations.  Until  the 
accession  of  George  III.,  Great  Britain,  in  time  of  war, 
had  been  in  the  habit  of  making  requisitions  for  supplies  to 
the  Provincial  Assemblies.  These  were  so  liberally  granted 
by  many  of  them,  and  particularly  by  that  of  South  Caro- 
lina, that  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  had  sometimes 
reimbursed  them  for  their  extraordinary  expenses.* 

Some  of  our  wealthier  planters  had  been  in  the  habit  of 


*  Ramsay's  "  History  Revolution  in  So.  Ca.,"  vol.  i.  p.  9. 


122  HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

sending  their  sons  abroad  to  be  educated.  As  a  whole j 
the  colonists  were  as  loyal  as  any  of  the  subjects  of  the 
Crown  at  home.  But^  in  1763,  when  the  scheme  of  an 
American  revenue  was  laid  before  Parliament,  to  be  col- 
lected in  the  colonies  without  the  consent  of  their  local 
legislatures,  the  first  shock  was  given  to  that  loyalty  which 
had  never  before  been  seriously  disturbed.  How  that  first 
shock  soon  after  settled  down  into  a  feeling  of  dissatisfac- 
tion, which  continued  to  increase,  with  an  occasional  strug- 
gle of  the  old  attachments  of  birth  and  association,  and  at 
length  attained  complete  ascendancy,  are  among  the  records 
of  history.  The  people  on  the  Pedee,  from  the  first,  par- 
ticipated deeply  in  the  feeling  of  resistance  against  that, 
which  in  common  with  their  countrymen  elsewhere,  they 
regarded  as  the  encroachments  of  oppression  at  the  expense 
of  that  well-regulated  liberty  which  they  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  enjoy.  They  were,  moreover,  active  and  stead- 
fast throughout  the  great  controversy  and  struggle  which 
were  at  hand. 

As  yet,  they  could  scarcely  be  said  to  have  a  voice  of 
their  own  in  the  Provincial  Assembly,  where  the  first  notes 
of  opposition  were  to  be  heard.  Though  nominally  em- 
braced in  parochial  organizations,  which  were  influential, 
they  were  virtually  unrepresented.  But  little  intercourse 
had  yet  been  established  with  the  parishes  lower  down ; 
and  no  member  of  Assembly  had  appeared  from  the  Upper 
Pedee.  For  this  and  other  reasons,  much  anxiety  was  felt 
to  have  a  distinct  organization  of  their  own,  through  which 
their  sentiments  might  become  known,  and  their  influence 
be  felt  beyond  the  boundaries  of  their  settlements,  which 
were  remote,  and,  as  yet,  comparatively  unknown.  One 
relic  remains,  identifying  them  with  the  general  feeUng 
which  pervaded  the  people  of  the  Province  at  this  period — 
a  relic  connected  with  the  immortal  Pitt.  It  was  after 
the  repeal  of  the  "  Stamp  Act,'-'  when  the  difficulty  with  the 
Mother  Country  was  thouglit  for  a  time  to  have  been  happily 
adjusted,  that  so  large  a  debt  of  gratitude  was  felt  by  the 
colonists  to  be  due  to  Lord  Chatham,  the  fearless  and 
eloquent  defender  of  the  opjaressed  people  of  America.  In 
Great   Britain,  the  repeal  of  the  "  Cider  Act "  helped  also 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


123 


to  swell  the  feeling  of  enthusiasm  which  moved  the  hearts 
of  that  great  people. 

In  the  South  Carolina  Gazette  and  Country  Journal,  of 
Charles-town,  July  22nd,  1766,  appeared  this  item  of  news 
from  the  British  correspondent  : — ''  There  is  a  handsome 
medal  struck  and  distributed,  about  the  size  of  a  crown- 
piece,  on  which  is  the  head  of  Mr.  Pitt,  with  his  name  ; 
and  for  the  reverse,  the  following  inscription:  'The  Man, 
who,  having  saved  the  Parent,  pleaded  with  success  for  her 


cliildi 


It  was  also  added  :  "  A  great  number  of  rings, 


set  with  the  head  of  Mr.  Pitt,  is  intended  to  be  sent,  as 
presents,  to  some  of  the  princijial  merchants  in  America, 
by  their  correspondents  in  this  country."  One  of  these 
medals  was  found  a  few  years  since  in  an  ancient  clearing"^ 
at  Cheraw  Hill,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  It  is  a 
handsome  piece  of  work,  the  face  being  well  executed,  with 
the  inscription,  "  Gulielmus  Pitt ;"  and  on  the  reverse  the 
words  akeady  quoted. 

The  repeal  of  the  Cider  and  Stamp  Acts,  in  which  Pitt 
took  so  prominent  a  part,  produced  a  general  and  extra- 
ordinary outburst  of  enthusiasm.  "  The  Irish,"  it  was  said,  in 
the  Account  already  noticed,  "  are  going  to  erect  his  Statue 
in  every  City  in  the  Kingdom,  as  the  Man  who  first  saved 
the  Mother,  and  after  that  her  children,  from  ruin  V  allud- 
ing to  Great  Britain  and  the  colonies.    Statues  were  ordered 


*  It  was  picked  up  by  a  child  on  the  surface  in  an  old  field  near  St.  David's 
Church,  and  given  to  the  author.  No  clue  was  found  as  to  its  history,  until  the 
account  of  it  was  met  with  in  the  old  Gazette. 

The  woodcut  annexed  represents  it  correctly. 


THE    MAK 

WHO -HAVING 

SAVED      THE 

parent-pleaded! 

),WITI1    SUCCESS 
FOR     HER  J/ 
.CHILDREN. 


124  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEKAWS.  " 

this  year  by  tlie  Commons  House  of  Assembly  of  Maryland 
to  the  honour  of  this  noble  defender  of  the  rights  of  man. 
The  Assembly  of  New  York  also  ordered  an  elegant  statue 
of  brass  from  England.  "  They  have  also  ordered/^  it 
was  said,  "  that  a  piece  of  Plate,  value  100  pounds 
sterling,  be  presented  to  John  Seargant,  Esq.,  of  the  City 
of  London,  with  the  thanks  of  the  House,  for  his  having 
cheerfully  undertaken  at  their  request,  and  to  their  great 
satisfaction  faithfully  discharged,  the  trust  of  special  agent, 
and  liberally  declined  any  allowance  for  his  trouble.  June 
30th,  1766.'^ 

The  language  inscribed  on  the  medal  appears  to  have 
been  quite  in  vogue  at  the  time. 

In  the  Gazette  of  July  8th,  of  the  same  year,  it  was 
said  :  "  In  the  House  of  Commons,  the  entire  illegality  of 
General  Warrants,  was  determined  25th  April,  even  without 
a  Division ;  upon  which  occasion,  that  great  Man,  '  who 
saved  the  Parent,  and  pleaded  with  success  for  her  chil- 
dren,^ exerted  himself  in  a  remarkable  manner."  Occa- 
sionally the  British  papers  contained  happy  hits  at  the 
opponents  of  American  Bights,  of  which  the  following  was 
a  specimen : — 

"  London,  March  1. 
"  Intelligence  extraordinary. 

"  A  person  of  considerable  eminence  is  said  to  be  pre- 
paring the  heads  of  a  bill,  to  be  laid  before  a  great,  august 
Assembly,  in  which,  among  other  things,  it  will  be  proposed 
to  be  enacted,  that  no  American  shall  presume  to  eat,  drink, 
or  sleep  for  the  space  of  one  whole  year." 

The  feeling  in  Carolina,  after  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp 
Act,  was  intense.  A  marble  statue  of  Pitt  was  ordered  from 
England,  to  be  executed  in  the  highest  style  of  art.  When 
received  in  Charles-town,  the  enthusiasm  of  the  people  knew 
no  bounds.  The  principal  men  of  the  city,  unwilling  for 
the  precious  burden  to  be  borne  by  other  hands,  drew  it 
themselves,  amid  the  firing  of  cannon  and  other  demonstra- 
tions of  admiring  affection,  to  the  spot  selected  for  its  erec- 
tion, the  intersection  of  Broad  and  Meeting  streets.  The 
subsequent    history  of  this    statue  was  remarkable.      The 


HISTORY   OF   THE   OLD   CHERAWS.  125 

right  arm  J  raised  in  eloquent  attitude,  was  shot  off  Ijy  a 
cannon-ball  discharged  from  a  British  Fort  on  James  Island, 
during  the  siege  of  Charles-town,  in  1780,  And  such  is  the 
fickleness  of  popidar  feeling,  that  a  few  years  after,  the  ex- 
citement against  the  son  of  Mr.  Pitt,  who  was  then  direct- 
ing the  war  against  France,  was  as  great  with  some  at  the 
South  as  it  had  been  enthusiastically  warm  for  the  father. 
In  consequence  of  which,  it  is  said  that  the  statue  in  being 
taken  down  for  a  change  of  place,  was  allowed  to  fall,  and 
in  its  broken  and  mutilated  state  put  away  among  some 
old  rubbish,  where  it  remained  for  years  uncared  for  and 
forgotten.*  Until,  at  length,  the  noble  impulse  that  had 
prompted  its  execution  in  the  first  instance,  once  more 
attained  the  ascendancy,  and  the  valuable  relic  was  carefully 
placed  where  it  now  stands,  in  front  of  the  Orphan  House 
in  Charleston,  an  ornament  to  the  city  which  shoidd  hold 
it  dear  to  the  latest  generation. 

Such  had  been  the  progress  of  the  settlements  on  the 
Pedee  in  all  the  elements  of  prosperity,  that  a  distinct 
organization  of  their  own,  the  want  of  which  had  been  long 
felt,  was  now  imperatively  demanded.  And  happily  for 
them,  their  claims  in  this  behalf,  could  no  longer  be  over- 
looked. It  will  be  seen  how  a  new  impetus  was  thereby 
given  to  their  hitherto  steady  progress,  and  an  opportunity 
afforded  them  of  taking  their  proper  place  in  the  affairs  of 
the  Province,  to  the  advancement  of  which,  in  their  mea- 
sure, as  good  citizens,  they  had  faithfully  contributed. 

The  time  withal  was  at  hand,  when  their  voice  was  of 
right  to  be  heard;  and  their  efforts,  as  an  organized  body, 
to  be  acknowledged,  who,  having  once  been  as  loyal  as  any 
otiier  subjects  of  the  British  Crown,  were  now  to  be  as 
prompt  and  decided  in  throwing  off  the  yoke  which  a  mis- 
guided government,  as  an  unnatural  parent,  would  fain  have 
put  upon  them. 


*  Drayton's  "  Memoirs,"  v.  1,  p.  60,  and  note,  giving  an  interesting  account 
of  this  statue. 


126  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Judicial  history — Only  Courts  held  in  Charles-town — Evils  resulting — Lynch 
law — Disturbances  in  North  Carolina — Similar  troubles  in  this  Province — 
How  remedied  by  the  people — Regulation  movement — First  expression  of 
the  popular  voice  by  petition  for  Circuit  Courts — Action  of  Council  thereon, 
and  of  Commons  House  of  Assembly — Nothing  done — People  discouraged 
and  disaffected — Acts  of  Regulators — Government  alarmed — Accounts 
from  Back  Country — Proclamations  of  Governor  to  quiet  disturbances — 
Furtlier  accounts  from  interior — Action  of  Council — Legal  proceedings 
instituted — Disturbances  continue — People  await  the  fate  of  Circuit  Court 
Act — Disturbances  in  neighbourhood  of  Mars  Bluff — Colonel  Powell — 
Companies  from  Long  Bluff — Accounts  of  the  conflict  —  Its  end — Govern- 
ment alive  from  the  first  to  the  serious  nature  of  the  troubles — Regu- 
lators meet — Account  of  them — New  election  of  Members  of  Assembly 
ordered — General  meeting  of  Regulators — Precautions  to  preserve  quiet  at 
elections — Assembly  meets — His  Excellency's  address — Assembly's  reply — 
Domestic  manufactures — Efforts  to  promote  them — Subscription  in  St. 
David's — Assembly  espouses  cause  of  colonists — Concluding  reflections. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  period  of  which  some  account  has 
been  given,  events  were  transpiring,  important  beyond  all 
others  in  their  bearing  upon  that  decisive  change  which  the 
conflict  with  the  Mother  Country  was  soon  to  bring  about. 
An  alarming  state  of  affairs  had  existed  in  the  interior  and 
more  remote  parts  of  the  Province.  Prior  to  the  year  1769, 
the  General  Court  was  holden  in  Charles-town.  This  had 
supplanted  the  County  and  Precinct  Courts  which  were  ap- 
pointed in  1725  ;  and  being  the  only  Court  of  Criminal  and 
Civil  jurisdiction  in  the  Province  (except  the  Courts  of  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace,  which  had  jurisdiction  in  all  civil  causes 
as  high  as  twenty  pounds  current  money),  great  oppression 
and  inconvenience  were  felt  by  the  people  living  remote 
from  the  seat  of  justice — by  parties,  witnesses,  and  jurors, 
who  were  obliged  to  attend  the  court ;  and  especially  by 
suitors  and  prosecutors,  who  were  often  worn  out  by  the 
law's  delay,  insulted  by  the  insolence  of  office,  and  ruined 
by    costs    and   expenses,   most   unreasonably    incurred    and 


HISTORY    OF   THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  127 

cruelly  exacted."^  The  delay  of  suits,  in  many  cases,  in 
consequence  of  the  distance  from  Charles-town,  was  very 
gTeat,  and  tlie  cost  and  inconvenience  of  such  attendance 
exceedingly  burdensome  and  detrimental.  The  business  of 
the  Provost  Marshal  was  much  too  extensive  to  be  duly 
executed,  and  his  fees,  by  reason  of  the  extent  of  his  office 
throughout  the  Pro\ince,  often  more  than  half  the  amounts 
sued  for.  The  expense  of  recovering  small  debts  frequently 
exceeded  their  whole  sum.  In  consequence  of  this  state  of 
things,  numbers  of  people,  it  is  said,  were  deterred  from 
becoming  inhabitants  of  tlie  Pro\inee,  and  many  large  and 
valuable  tracts  of  land  continued  to  lie  uncultivated,  to  the 
injury  of  the  public  revenue  and  the  trade  with  Great  Bri- 
tain. And  yet  greater  evils  prevailed,  so  as  seriously  to 
affect  the  inhabitants  of  the  interior,  because  unprotected  to 
a  great  extent  in  their  j)ersons  and  property  by  the  strong 
arm  of  the  law.  They  were  too  remote  to  think  of  carry- 
ing thieves  and  other  offenders,  excejjt  in  extraordinary 
cases,  to  Charles-town.  , Hence  the  most  unhappy  facilities 
were  afforded  to  the  worst  classes  of  people  to  escape  the 
punishment  due  to  their  crimes,  and  the  payment  of  their 
just  debts.  This  state  of  things  drove  the  inhabitants  of 
the  middle  and  parts  of  the  upper  county,  then  the  frontier 
settlements,  into  the  most  disorderly  and  violent  measures. 
The  laws,  which  were  found  ineffectual  to  restrain  and 
punish  horse  thieves  and  other  notorious  offenders,  were  also 
disregarded  by  good  and  honest  men,  who  undertook  to  do 
themselves  justice,  and  to  punish  the  guilty  by  arbitrary 
measures.  The  authority  of  the  civil  magistrate  was  held 
in  contempt,  because  insufficient  for  the  maintenance  of 
order  and  the  regular  execution  of  the  laws.  Some  efforts 
were  made  to  repress  these  disturbances,  but  they  were 
found  unavailing.* 

The  evil,  which   had  been  of  long   standing    and   grow^n 
with  the  increase  of  population,  at  length  became   iutoler- 


*  Introduction  to  Brevard's  "Digest,"  vol.  i.  p.  14.      Tliis   introduction  is  of 
great  value   in  connexion  with   the  Judicial   History  of  this  period.     Though 
brief,  it  is  a  very  able  and  comprehensive  exposition  of  those  evils  which  drove 
the  people  to  desperation,  and  of  the  changes  imperatively  demanded, 
t  Brevard,  vol.  i.  p  14. 


128  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

able.  Such  was  the  distance  to  Charles-town,  the  seat  of 
justice ;  such  the  difficulty,  nay,  the  impossibility  in  most 
instances,  of  securing  the  attendance  of  necessary  parties, 
and  the  great  expense  withal,  that  redress  was  literally  out 
of  the  question — redress  according  to  the  forms  of  law. 
This,  indeed,  has  been  the  case  in  the  first  settlement  of  all 
our  western  states  at  later  periods.*  To  increase  the  diffi- 
culty in  Carolina,  a  certain  class  of  offenders  now  abounded. 
There  was  a  floating  element — men  of  lawless  character,  who 
lived  by  their  wits,  and  infested  every  community.  Horse 
thieves  and  negro  stealers,  highway-robbers  and  abandoned 
trespassers  had  to  be  dealt  with.  Signal  and  summary 
punishment,  though  often  demanded  by  the  atrocious  cir- 
cumstances attending  particular  cases,  was  not  to  be  had 
according  to  the  established  course  of  justice.  However 
heinous  their  offences  had  been,  criminals  could  not  ordi- 
narily be  brought  to  a  legal  condemnation.  They  came  in 
strongly  organized  bands,  and  by  their  mutual  support,  false 
swearing,  and  intimidation  of  prosecutors,  either  caused  the 
law  to  be  ineffectual,  or  the  guilty  entirely  to  escape. 
Having  in  vain  sought  relief  from  the  Government,  the  vir- 
tuous inhabitants  had  but  one  alternative  left — to  take  the 
administration  of  remedial  measures  into  their  own  hands. 

They  called  themselves  "  Regulators  f  and  thus  ^^  Lynch 
law'^  had  its  origin  at  this  period. 

The  Regulators  consisted  of  respectable  planters  and 
others,  who  demanded  a  better  system  for  the  more  regular, 
equal,  and  vigorous,  as  well  as  prompt  administration  of  jus- 
tice.f  Such  was  the  character  of  the  actors,  and  of  the 
movement  made  on  the  Pedee.  The  Regulators  maintaiued 
for  some  time  a  vigorous  and  effective  organization,  not 
abusing  the  powers  they  assumed,  or  exercising  them  beyond 
the  exigences  of  their-  unhappy  condition.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  Government,  instead  of  giving  ear  to  their  timely 
and  respectful  complaints,  and  providing  some  redress,  em- 
ployed as  instruments  to  subdue  the  spirit  of  rebellion,  as  it 


*  Remarkably  so  in  Texas,  where  the  history  of  Lynch  Law,  or  the   Regu- 
lators, has  been  one  of  a  peculiar  and  most  in^itructive  character. 
+  Brevard's  "  Introduction,"  p.  14. 


HISTORY    OF   THE   OLD   CHERAWS,  129 

was  called,  and  enforce  the  existing  system,  men  of  little  or 
no  character  or  respectability,  the  obsequious  tools  of  those 
iu  power,  who  abused  their  authority  and  fattened  on  the 
general  distress.  This  was  more  or  less  the  case  in  all  the 
interior  parts  of  the  Province,  and  especially  in  the  western 
district,  where  a  man  of  low  character,  named  Scovill,  was 
employed  to  enforce  the  law  among  the  self-constituted 
Regulators."^  In  executing  his  commission  he  adopted  very 
severe  measures,  and  came  into  serious  collision  with  num- 
bers of  the  better  classes  among  the  people,  involving  mul- 
titudes in  great  distress.  All  this  led,  in  that  part  of  the 
Province,  to  very  grave  difficulties  and  disturbances  at  the 
commencement  of  the  Revolution. 

In  Xorth  Carolina  also  serious  troubles  now  existed. 
The  first  complaints  there  arose  from  oppressive  exactions 
laid  by  government  officials  in  the  shape  of  exorbitant  fees 
and  otherwise  upon  the  people. 

As  early  as  1766,  these  disturbances,  beginning  iu  Gran- 
ville, extended  into  Orange  and  Anson  Counties.  Up  to 
April,  1768,  those  who  had  taken  part  in  these  proceedings 
in  North  Carolina  were  designated  by  the  appellation  of  the 
''  Mob,""  and  seem  to  have  adopted  it  themselves.  On  the 
4th  of  April  they  changed  it  to  that  of  "  Regulators. "f 
Oppressed  with  the  malpractices  of  some  avaricious  indivi- 
duals, they  forcibly  opposed  the  administration  of  civil 
government  under  the  officers  of  the  Crown.  These  insur- 
gents, though  numerous,  being  undisciplined,  and  for  the 
most  part  without  arms,  were  easily  dispersed  by  Gov"*- 
Tryon  at  the  head  of  the  incorporated  militia  of  the  country. 
Some  of  their  leaders  were  killed  in  action,  others  were 
hanged,  and  all  of  them  were  involved  in  distress.  J  Three 
hundred  of  their  number  were  left  dead  upon  the  field.  It 
might  have  been  expected  that  those  in  either  Province,  who 
were  thus  ready  to  resist  the  constituted  authorities,  on 
account  of  oppressions,  or  to  take  the  law  into  their  own 
hands  in  order  to   bring  the  guilty  to  condemnation,  would 


*  Ramsay's  "  History  of  Revolution  in  So.  Ca.,"  vol.  i.  p. 
t  Martin's  "  History  of  No.  Ca.,"  pp.  215-217. 
J  "  Ramsay,"  vol.  i.  p.  213. 


130  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

be  true  to  their  country  in  the  great  conflict  then  approach- 
ing. These  were  in  reality  the  first  revokitions  in  America,* 
and  those  who  assumed  therein  the  attitude  of  open  resis- 
tance were  the  first  rebels.  But,  disappointing  public  ex- 
pectation, many  in  North  Carolina  afterwards  joined  the 
royal  party. 

As  it  was  with  those  between  the  Broad  and  Saluda 
Rivers  in  S°"  C'  who  came  in  conflict  with  Scovill,  having 
suffered  so  severely  for  opposing  regular  government,  they 
could  not  be  persuaded  afterward  to  co-operate  with  their 
countrymen  in  the  support  of  congresses  and  committees 
raised  for  purposes  of  resistance.f  And  thus,  a  spirit  true 
to  the  instincts  of  liberty  in  the  inception  of  the  struggle, 
though  to  some  extent  misguided,  was  crushed  by  the  dis- 
asters it  encountered,  and  turned  at  last  against  that  cause 
which  it  might  so  nobly  have  sustained.  Such,  however, 
was  not  the  history  of  the  Regulation  Movement  on  the 
Pedee.  It  began  not  so  much  in  the  shape  of  open  resis- 
tance or  opposition  to  Government,  as  in  the  assumption  of 
authority  within  certain  limits,  which  the  best  citizens 
deemed  essential  to  the  public  welfare  and  to  individual 
safety.  The  most  respectable  and  influential  inhabitants 
were  found  chiefly  on  the  river,  where  the  first  settlements 
were  made,  and  these  were  all  united  in  their  respective 
neighbourhoods,  as  committees  of  vigilance,  for  the  detection 
and  punishment  of  offenders.  With  them  no  stigma 
attached  to  the  name  of  Regulator.  They  were  actuated  by 
good  motives,  and  only  sought  to  effect,  by  a  summary 
process  of  their  own,  what  the  law,  as  then  administered, 
had  signally  failed  to  accomplish.  Violent  measures  were 
only  resorted  to  as  a  temporary  expedient.  Under  the 
extraordinary  circumstances  of  the  time,  the  course  of  these 
Regulators  cannot  be  condemned.  It  furnishes,  however, 
no  precedent  for  a  similar  line  of  conduct  in  others  who 
live  in  a  more  advanced  and  better  regiilated  state  of  society, 
with  the  important  privilege,  moreover,  of  courts  of  their 
own,  which  to  our  early  settlers  was  denied. 


*  Sabine's  "  American  Loj'alists,"  p.  27. 
t  Ramsay's  "Revolution  in  So.  Ca.,"  vol.  i.  p 


1.64. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  131 

The  position  taken  by  tlie  Regulators  on  the  Pcdce,  and 
the  conflicts  to  which  it  led  with  the  royal  authority^  un- 
doubtedly nursed  the  spirit  of  liberty^  preparing  the  way  for 
that  early  and  bold  declaration  of  their  rights,  as  well  as 
for  those  heroic  sacrifices  and  unflinching  struggles  in  the 
cause  of  independence^  for  which  the  Whigs  of  the  Old 
CheraATS  Avere  to  be  afterward  distinguished. 

The  fii'st  expression  of  the  popular  voice,  with  reference 
to  the  evils  of  which  we  have  spoken,  is  found  in  the  records 
of  the  Upper  House  of  Assembly,  or  Council,  March  16th, 
1752.  On  that  day,  this  entry  was  made  : — "  Eead  the 
petition  of  the  Inhabitants  on  Pedee  River,  about  the  mouth 
of  Lynchers  Creek,  Humbly  setting  forth :  That  the  Humble 
Petitioners  reside  in  the  remotest  parts  of  this  Province, 
having  200  miles  to  travel  to  the  seat  of  Government ;  and 
that  trade  and  commerce  among  us  are  greatly  obstructed 
for  want  of  a  County  Court  appointed  to  hear  and  deter- 
mine all  causes,  as  well  civil  as  criminal,  in  the  same 
manner  as  every  Court  in  each  Province  to  the  Northward, 
has  power  to  hear  and  determine  all  such  causes.  We  find 
the  frontier  here  to  be  a  place  of  refuge  for  many  evil- 
disposed  people  and  those  of  the  meanest  principles,  crowd- 
ing in  amongst  us — such  as  Horse  Stealers  and  other 
Felons,  having  made  their  escape  from  North  Carolina,  and 
other  parts — others  cohabiting  with  their  neighbor's  wives, 
and  living  in  a  most  lascivious  manner,  while  we  have  no 
way  or  means  to  suppress  them.  We  therefore  humbly 
pray,  that  an  Act  be  passed,  dividing  Craven  County  ;  and 
that  that  part  from  the  mouth  of  Lynchers  Creek  upward, 
to  the  extent  of  this  Province,  on  both  sides  of  Great 
Pedee  River,  bounding  Southwardly  by  Lyncher's  Creek, 
Northwardly  by  the  Province  line,  which  we  pray  may  be 
fui'ther  extended ;  and  likewise  by  a  North  line  from  oppo- 
site to  the  mouth  of  Lynchers  Creek  to  the  Province  line — 
be  one  distinct  County,  in  which  we  may  have  twleve  or 
more  Justices  appointed  and  authorised,  without  fee  or 
reward,  to  hear  and  determine  all  causes,  as  well  civil  as 
criminal,  without  having  their  jurisdiction  limited — any 
person  supposing  himself  aggrieved,  to  be  redressed  by  ap- 
pealing to  a  Superior  Com-t  in  Charles-town.      We  likewise 

K  2 


132  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

humbly  pray,  that  in  consequence  of  the  great  expense 
which  our  County  will  be  at  in  building  a  Court  House, 
prison,  pillory,  and  stocks,  we  may  be  exempt  from  paying 
such  public  taxes  for  some  few  years,  as  in  your  wisdom  you 
shall  think  tit.  And  your  Petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound, 
&c., 

"  John   Crawford, 

"  Owen  David, 

"  Wm.  Summer, 
"  And  about  60  more  subscribers/^  * 

This  timely  and  earnest  appeal  could  not  be  altogether 
slighted.  The  better  classes  of  people  were  groaning  under 
the  evils  of  which  they  here  complained. 

"  The  said  Petition,"  as  the  Records  of  Council  further 
inform  us,  "  being  considered  ;  it  was  Ordered,  that  the 
same  be  sent  down  to  the  Commons  House  of  Assembly  by 
the  Master  in  Chancery."  On  the  following  day,  the 
House  "  Resolved  to  appoint  a  Committee  to  take  the  same 
into  consideration,  consisting  of  Mr.  Trapier,  Mr.  Powell,t 
Mr.  Lynch,  Mr.  Dart,  and  Captain  Buchanan." 

On  the  22nd  of  April,  the  Committee  reported,  "  That 
they  have,  pursuant  to  the  Order  of  the  House,  examined 
the  matter  of  the  said  Petition ;  and  are  of  opinion, 
that  it  will  be  no  wise  to  the  advantage  of  the  Petitioners 
to  have  the  County  of  Craven  divided,  as  prayed  for  by 
their  Petition, — because  there  is  no  town  or  other  place 
proper  for  holding  Courts  of  Judicature  in  that  part  of  the 
Country  which  the  Petitioners  pray  may  be  established  a 
separate  and  distinct  County.  But  the  Committee  are  of 
opinion,  that  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  a  Court  be 
established,    to  be  holden  at  George-town,  Winvaw,  in  the 


*  From  two  of  the  names  subscribed  to  this  petition— viz.,  John  Cra.v  ford 
and  OweQ  David,  it  is  manifest  that  the  petitioners  were  not  confined  to  the 
country  about  the  mouth  of  Lynche's  Creek,  but  extended  mucli  higher  up  the 
river.  The  distance  stated  to  the  seat  of  Government  (Chark's-town)  being 
double  the  distance  from  Lynehe's  Creek,  vvoiikl  also  indicate  that  the  more 
remote  parts  of  Craven  County  were  actually  embraced  in  those  taking  an  active 
part  in  the  movement. 

■f  This  was  George  Gabriell  Powell,  a  member  from  Prince  George,  Winyaw, 
with  whose  name  we  are  to  become  so  familiar,  as  connected  vvith  the  region 
•ibove. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEllAWS.  lo6 

said  Couutj'^,  for  hearing,  trying,  and  determining  all 
actions,  causes,  and  crimes  whatever  (capital  crimes  ex- 
cepted), that  may  arise  or  happen  in  the  said  County ; 
And  humbly  recommend  that  a  bill  be  brought  in  for  that 
purpose,  and  that  a  Message  be  sent  to  the  Governor  by 
this  House,  to  desire  that  his  Excellency  will  be  pleased  to 
appoint  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  that  Part  of  the  Province, 
agreeably  to  the  prayer  of  the  said  Petition."  This  Report 
was  read,  considered,  and  duly  agreed  to  by  the  House  ; 
and  a  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  and  bring  in  a  Bill 
for  establishing  Courts  of  Justice  at  George-town,  in  Craven 
Coimty,  and  at  Beaufort,  in  Granville  County.  A  Message 
was  also  Ordered  to  be  sent  to  his  Excellency,  requesting 
him  to  appoint  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  the  distant  Parts 
of  the  Province. 

And  thus  the  matter  ended,  except  that  additional  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace  were  appointed.  But  their  powers  were 
too  limited  to  afford  such  relief  as  the  inhabitants  de- 
manded. Ko  distinct  county  organization,  such  as  was 
prayed  for,  being  provided,  the  consequence  was  they  were 
deprived  of  whatever  benefit  even  a  County  Court  of  in- 
ferior jurisdiction  would  have  brought  with  it.  No  court 
was  established  at  George-town,  as  recommended  by  the 
Committee.  The  Representatives  of  the  people  felt  the 
necessity  of  such  measures,  but  the  Government,  actuated 
by  a  most  mistaken  policy,  was  unwilling  to  lend  any  en- 
couragement. 

The  inhabitants  were  consequently  forced,  either  to  sub- 
mit to  the  grievous  delay  and  ruinous  expense  of  prose- 
cuting their  claims  there,  and  carrying  criminals  to 
Charles-town,  or  to  take  the  redress  of  their  grievances 
into  their  own  hands.  Finding  their  efforts  for  relief  in- 
effectual, they  appear  to  have  made  no  further  attempt  in 
that  direction  for  years  to  come.  In  the  meantime  the 
evils  of  which  they  had  complained  continued  to  increase, 
and  at  length  become  insupportable.  The  Provincial  Go- 
vernment, reflecting  the  wishes  of  that  of  the  ]\lother 
Country,  was  unwilling,  as  will  be  found  in  thte  sequel,  to 
establish  Courts  in  the  interior.  These  once  secured,  other 
privileges,  it  was  thought,  would  be  demanded,  gradual  en- 


134  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

croachments  be  made  on  the  established  order  of  things^  the 
influence  of  the  Government  in  Charles-town  lessened,  and 
by  degrees  the  way  prepared  for  the  spirit  of  liberty,  and  the 
assertion  of  their  rights  by  the  people  of  Carolina.  It  was 
a  short-sighted  and  fatal  policy.  For  the  people  who  were 
thus  aggrieved  began  to  feel  at  length,  that  those  who  ought 
to  have  been  most  deeply  alive  to  their  sufferings,  and  who 
had  the  power  to  give  redress,  were  willing  to  sacrifice  them, 
if  need  be,  to  the  interests  of  the  Crown. 

Of  the  history  of  the  efforts  made  by  the  back  settlers, 
during  the  nearly  quarter  of  a  century  which  followed  before 
they  became  their  own  masters,  to  rid  themselves  of  the 
e\als  mentioned,  no  record  remains.  The  earliest  account 
left  to  us  was  of  a  similar  state  of  things  in  another  part 
of  the  Province.  In  the  Gazette  of  May  26th,  1767,  ap- 
peared the  following  extract  of  a  letter  from  Pine  Tree  Hill 
(Camden),  dated  May  14th,  1767  :— "  On  the  6*>^  in^*,  a 
number  of  armed  men,  being  in  search  of  Horse  Stealers, 
robbers,  &c.,  discovered  a  parcel  of  them  in  camp  on  Broad 
River,  where  an  engagement  soon  ensued,  and  the  Thieves 
Were  put  to  flight ;  and  though  none  of  them  were  taken, 
it  is  reasonable  to  suppose,  from  the  quantity  of  blood  on 
the  ground,  that  some  of  them  were  killed.  They  left 
behind  them  ten  horses,  thirteen  saddles,  some  guns,  &c.^'' 

This  was  but  the  commencement  of  troubles.  The  great 
evils  complained  of  began  to  appear  in  a  thoroughly  orga- 
nized, and,  to  the  Government,  very  alarming  form.  The 
Gazette  of  July  27th — August  3rd  following,  made  this 
statement : — "  The  gang  of  Villains  from  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina,  who  have  for  some  years  past,  in  small  parties, 
under  particular  leaders,  infested  the  back  parts  of  the 
Southern  Provinces,  stealing  horses  from  one,  and  selling 
them  in  the  next,  notwithstanding  the  late  public  examples 
made  of  several  of  them,  we  hear  are  more  formidable  than 
ever  as  to  numbers,  and  more  audacious  and  cruel  in  their 
thefts  and  outrages.  'Tis  reported  that  they  consist  of  more 
than  200,  form  a  chain  of  communication  with  each  other, 
and  have  places  of  general  meeting ;  where  (in  imitation  of 
Councils  of  War)  they  form  plans  of  operation  and  defence, 
and  (alluding  to   their  secrecy  and  fidelity  to  each  other). 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  135 

call  their  places  Free  Masou  Lodges.  Instances  of  their 
cruelty  to  the  people  in  the  back  settlements,  where  they 
rob  or  otherwise  abuse,  are  so  numerous  and  shocking, 
that  a  narrative  of  them  would  fill  a  whole  Gazette,  and 
eveiT  reader  with  horror.  Tliey  at  present  range  in  the 
Forks  between  Broad,  Saludy,  and  Savannah  Rivers.  Two 
of  tte  gang  were  liauged  List  week  at  Savannah,  viz.,  Lundy 
Hr.rt  and  Obadiah  Greenage.  Two  others,  James  Fergu- 
son and  Jesse  Hambersam,  were  killed  when  these  were 
tiken.^'  Soon  after  this,  other  alarming  accounts  reached 
Charles-town  from  the  interior,  for  the  back  settlements 
vere  now  in  a  state  of  general  commotion.  At  a  Meeting 
of  Council,  October  5th,  1707,  "  His  Excellency  informed 
the  Board  that  he  had  received  information  that  a  consider- 
able number  of  the  Inhabitants  between  Santee  and  Wateree 
rivers  had  assembled,  and  iu  a  riotous  manner  gone  up  and 
down  the  country,  committing  riots  and  disturbances, 
and  that  they  had  burnt  the  houses  of  some  persons  who  were 
reported  to  be  Harbourers  of  Horse  Thieves,  and  talk  of 
coming  to  Charles-town  to  make  some  complaints.  The 
Board  gave  it  as  their  opinion  to  his  Excellency  that  to 
prevent  the  mischief  such  commotions  would  be  attended 
with,  it  would  be  proper  for  his  Excellency  to  issue  a  Pro- 
clamation, commanding  them  to  disperse,  and  enjoining  all 
officers  to  take  care  to  preserve  the  public  peace."  How 
unfeeling  must  have  been  a  Government  which  had  no  sym- 
pathies for  the  troubles  of  its  unoffending  subjects  !  and 
how  blind  to  imagine  that  proclamations  could  quiet  the 
public  mind,  and  restore  tranquillity  among  those  whose 
persons  and  property  were  endangered  by  outlaws,  Avho  were 
running  at  large,  the  enemies  of  mankind ! 

In  November  following,  a  petition*  from  the  upper  and 
interior  parts  of  Craven  County,  for  the  redress  of  grie- 
vances, was  presented  to  Government. 

In  reply  to  this,  and  as  touching  the  fearful  state  of 
things  of  which  accounts  were  now  frequently  coming  in,  his 


*  It  is  a  source  of  much  regret  to  the  author  that  he  was  unable,  after 
diligent  search,  to  discover  any  fiu-ther  trace  of  this  petition.  It  was  not  copied, 
as  was  usual  in  the  proceedings  of  Council,  and  was  nowhere  else  to  be  found 
among  the  public  records  of  the  time.     It  came  from  the  Upper  Pedee. 


136  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Excellency  Lord  Charles  Grevill  Montagu,  on  5th  of  No- 
vember, made  the  following  address  to  both  Houses  of 
Assembly  : — 

"  Hon.  Gen*°  :  I  should  think  myself  equally  negligent  in 
the  duty  I  owe  to  my  King  and  this  Province,  if  I  did  not 
recommend  to  you  an  early  and  serious  consideration  of  the 
unhapj)y  situation  of  the  Back  Parts  of  this  Country.  The 
various  acts  of  villainy  committed  there,  in  contempt  of  all 
laws,  human  and  divine,  we  have  too  frequent  accounts  of, 
and  too  recent  proofs  of,  in  the  late  trials  of  the  unhappy- 
convicts  now  under  sentence  of  death.  Far  remote  from  the 
seat  of  Justice,  they  are  daily  exposed  to  misery  and  dis- 
tress. These  are  objects  that  requii'e  redress,  and  are 
worthy  the  care  of  the  Legislature.  Tumultuous  risings  of 
any  people,  if  not  properly  attended  to,  are  of  dangerous 
tendency,  and  they  are  a  disgrace  to  a  country,  and  particu- 
larly pernicious  to  a  commercial  and  newly  settled  colony. 
The  means  to  suppress  those  licentious  spirits  that  have  so 
lately  appeared  in.  the  distant  parts  of  the  Province,  and, 
assuming  the  name  of  Regulators,  have,  in  defiance  of  Go- 
vernment, and  to  the  subversion  of  good  order,  illegally 
tried,  condemned,  and  punished  many  persons,  require  an 
attentive  deliberation.'^ 

To  this  the  Upper  House  of  Assembly  made  the  follow- 
ing reply  :— 

"  The  Humble  Address  of  his  Majesty's  Council.  We, 
his  Majesty's  dutiful  and  loving  subjects,  the  Council  of  this 
Province,  beg  leave  to  return  our  thanks  to  your  Excellency 
for  your  speech  delivered  yesterday  to  both  Houses  of 
Assembly.  It  is  with  the  utmost  concern  that  we  behold 
the  distracted  state  of  the  Frontier  Settlements  of  this  Pro- 
vince, where  force  and  rapine,  riot  and  disorder,  supersede 
the  temperate  provisions  of  law  and  justice ;  but,  tumultuous 
examples  never  fail  to  multiply  those  evils  which  it  is  the 
policy  of  well-regulated  States  to  prevent  by  proper  laws. 
The  great  objects  proposed  to  our  consideration  deserve  the 
most  serious  and  deliberate  attention,  and  we  assure  your 
Excellency  that  we  shall,  on  our  part,  most  heartily  concur 
in  every  measure  calculated  to  advance  the  public  good,  to 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CUE  RAWS.  137 

compose  tlic  miuds  and  remove  the  distresses  of  our  fellow 
subjects." 

The  Government,  as  is  liere  manifest,  did  not  comprehend 
the  real  nature  of  existing  evils,  or  the  remedies  necessary 
to  be  a])plied.  It  is  also  evident  from  the  Governor's 
language,  that  there  was  not  only  no  sympathy  with  them, 
but  that  a  feeling  of  very  decided  opposition  had  been 
excited  against  the  Regulators. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  feeling  entertained  by  the  Govern- 
ment, the  fact  may  be  mentioned  that  in  March  following 
(1768),  a  Petition  fi'om  the  Back  Settlers  for  a  Circuit 
Court  Bill,  as  a  measure  of  relief,  was  disposed  of  by 
Coiincil,  "  after  mature  deliberation,  by  determining  '  that 
it  would  not  be  necessary  to  take  any  notice  of  the  same.'  " 
This,  of  course,  only  led  to  more  desperate  measures  on  the 
part  of  the  suflFerers. 

In  less  than  a  month,  however,  the  authorities  in 
Charles-town  were  induced  to  change  their  minds,  and 
pursue  a  different  policy,  such  were  the  indications  of  ap- 
proaching difficulties,  threatening  to  bring  the  people  at 
once  into  an  attitude  of  open  rebellion,  and  perchance  to 
overthrow  the  Government  itself.  On  the  18th  of  April, 
a  Circuit  Court  Act  was  passed,  but  afterwards  failed  to 
become  a  law.  On  the  next  day,  Api'il  19th,  at  a  Meeting 
of  Coancil,  "  His  Hon'''  the  Lieut. -Gov""'  observed  to  his  Ex- 
cellency, that  a  great  number  of  Prosecutions  were  now  being 
carried  on  against  the  people  who  had  committed  several 
outrages  in  the  Back  Country,  and  went  by  the  name  of 
Regulators,  that  several  of  the  delinquents  were  very  poor, 
and  would  be  much  harassed  by  them,  and  they  had  been 
imhappily  deluded  by  some,  who  were  ring-leaders  in  these 
riots,  the  punishment  of  whom,  he  apprehended,  would 
answer  the  end  of  public  justice,  and  vindicate  the  honor 
of  Government ;  and  therefore  mentioned  it  as  his  opinion, 
that  it  would  be  proper  to  give  directions  to  the  Attorney- 
General,  after  a  sufficient  number  of  the  most  considerable 
were  convicted,  to  enter  Nolle  Prosequis  on  the  remaining 
prosecutions.  The  Board  agreeing  in  opinion  with  his 
Honor,    his    Excellency    was   pleased    to    direct,   that    the 


138  HISTORY  OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Attorney-General^  after  such  a  number  as  he  should  think 
convenient^  not  to  exceed  eight  of  the  Principal  Rioters, 
were  convicted,  to  stop  further  proceedings  against  the  rest/^* 
Little  did  his  Excellency,  his  Honor,  and  the  Council  un- 
derstand the  real  state  of  the  case.  United  as  the  sturdy 
yeomen  of  the  Back  Country  were,  and  far  removed  from 
the  coast,  what  cared  they  for  prosecutions  commenced  in 
Charles-town?  Having  in  vain  petitioned  for  redress,  no 
alternative  was  left  them  but  to  enter  boldly  upon  the  con- 
flict now  at  hand.  In  less  than  three  months  they  were 
found  at  work,  as  appears  from  the  following  remarks  in 
the  Gazette  of  June  13th.  "  It  seems  hardly  probable  that 
the  disturbances  in  our  back  settlements  will  entirely  sub- 
side, notwithstanding  all  the  prudent  steps  that  have  been 
taken,  or  can  be  taken,  by  the  Government  to  suppress  them, 
until  the  late  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Province 
for  establishing  Circuit  Courts,  takes  effect :  for  we  daily 
hear  of  new  irregularities  committed  by  the  people  called 
Regulators,  who,  seeming  to  despair  of  rooting  out  those  des- 
perate villains  that  remain  among  them  any  other  way,  still 
take  upon  themselves  to  punish  such  offenders  as  they  can 
catch.  We  hear,  that  within  this  month,  one  Watts  and  one 
Distoe,  have  received  500  lashes  each  by  their  direction ;  and 
that  an  infamous  woman  has  also  received  corporal  punish- 
ment. We  hear,  also,  that  one  John  Bowles  has  lately  lost 
his  life  in  attempting  to  take  Mr.  Woodward,  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  people  called  Regulators.  According  to  our 
account,  Woodward,  refusing  to  surrender  himself,  Bowles 
fired  at,  and  woidd  have  killed  him,  but  the  ball  struck  the 
barrel  of  a  gun  which  he  held  across  his  breast,  upon  which, 
some  people  in  company  with  Woodward,  fired,  and  killed 
Bowles.'^ 

It  seems  that  up  to  this  time,  the  authorities  in  Charles- 
town  were  not  apprized  of  the  fact  that  the  regulation 
movement  embraced  the  most  respectable  and  influential 
element  in  the  Back  Covmtry.  At  a  later  period  even,  a 
most  singular  misapprehension  will  be  found  to  have  pre- 
vailed on  the  subject.     The   crisis  on  the   Pedee  was  now 


Council  Journal,"  No,  34,  pp.  118,  119. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  139 

rapidly  approaching.  The  next  intelligence  of  which  any 
account  remains,  though  not  directly  from  that  quarter,  in- 
dicates what  was  goiug  on  there. 

"At  a  Meeting  of  Council,  July  5th,  1768,  his  Honor 
communicated  to  the  Board  a  letter  he  had  rec''"  from 
Tacitus  Galliard,  Esq.,  to  whom  he  had  sent  an  express, 
desiring  him  to  use  his  endeavours  to  apprehend  the 
Deserters  from  the  Regulars  in  Charles-town,  in  which 
Mr.  Galliard  informed  his  Honor,  that  the  Back  parts  of 
the  Country  were  far  from  being  quiet,  and  that  those 
people  called  Regulators,  continued  still  to  assemble  together; 
but,  as  few  members  were  present,  the  further  consideration 
of  what  might  be  proper  to  be  done,  was  adjourned  over 
till  next  Friday  morning.""^ 

At  that  meeting,  however,  no  action  appears  to  have 
been  taken.  On  25th  July,  the  following  intelligence  was 
given  in  the  So.  Ca.  Gazette.  "  The  last  accounts  from  the 
Back  Settlements  say,  that  the  People  called  the  Regula- 
tors were  to  have  a  meeting  at  Lynchers  Creek,  on  last 
Friday,  where  it  was  expected  1200  would  be  assembled. 
The  occasion  of  this  meeting  is  said  to  be,  a  Party  of  them 
lately  having  been  roughly  used  by  a  Gang  of  Banditti, 
consisting  of  IMulattoes,  Free  Negroes,  &c.,  notorious 
Harborers  of  runaway  slaves,  at  a  place  called  Thompson's 
Creek,  whom  they  ordered  to  remove.  It  is  added,  they 
anxiously  wait  to  hear  the  fate  of  the  Act  for  establishing 
Circuit  Courts  in  this  Province,  sent  home  for  the  Royal 
approbation,  which,  if  it  obtains,  will  restore  good  order  in 
those  parts.''''  It  may  surprise  the  reader  to  find  that  so 
large  a  number  of  the  classes  here  mentioned,  Mulattoes, 
Free  Negroes,  &c.,  had  collected  at  this  early  period  in  the 
settlement  of  the  Province.  Such  a  meeting  of  the  in- 
habitants would  indicate  a  formidable  band  of  desperadoes. 
A  more  serious  conflict  was  now  to  begin  on  the  River. 
In  Council,  August  2nd,  "  His  Honor  communicated  to  the 
Board  a  letter  from  Col.  Powell,  and  another  from  Robert 
Weaver,  Esq.,  a  magistrate  for  Craven  County,  and  an  affi- 
davit taken  by  Mr.  Weaver   from  some  of  the  people  who 


Council  Journal,"  No.  34,  pp.  174,  175. 


140  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

live  upon  the  Pedee;  from  which  it  appeared  that  a  Con- 
stable having  a  Warrant  of  Distress  to  execute  on  the 
Chattels  of  some  of  the  Regulators,  had  called  to  his 
assistance  13  other  men ;  that  this  party  had  fallen  in 
Avith  a  considerable  number  of  the  Regulators,  under  Gideon 
Gibson,  an  Inhabitant  of  those  Parts,  when  a  skirmish  was 
begun  by  the  Regulators,  in  which  one  of  the  Constable's 
party  was  killed ;  that  the  Regulators  then  overpowered  the 
Constable's  party,  and  whipt  some  of  them  in  a  most  cruel 
manner,  and  threatened  to  hang  one  of  them,  in  case  one 
of  their  party,  a  brother  of  the  said  Gibson,  who  was 
wounded  in  the  affray,  should  die.  It  also  appeared  that 
Mr.  Weaver,  the  Magistrate  who  had  issued  the  warrant, 
and  was  obnoxious  to  them  because  he  declared  his  disap- 
probation of  their  proceedings,  lived  in  the  greatest  terror 
and  danger  of  his  life  and  property,  and  that  all  that  part 
of  the  Country  was  a  scene  of  riot  and  disorder.'' 

"  His  Honor,  by  the  adAdce  of  the  Board,  sent  for  Mr. 
Campbell,  the  Clerk  of  the  Crown  and  Peace,  and  directed 
him  to  lay  those  papers  before  the  Judges,  and  to  inform 
t)iem*that  he  earnestly  recommended  to  them  to  take  such 
steps  as  would  enforce  obedience  to  the  laws,  quell  the 
disorders  in  the  Back  Country,  and  bring  some  of  these 
atrocious  offenders  to  condign  punishment  ;  and  to  assure 
them  of  his  readiness  to  give  all  assistance  in  his  power  to 
accomplish  these  ends."* 

This  disturbance  near  Mars  Bluff  thus  begun,  proved  to  be 
of  most  important  consequence  in  alarming  the  Government 
on  the  one  hand,  and  rousing  and  uniting  the  better  class 
of  inhabitants  in  the  interior  on  the  other.  Gideon  Gibson, 
though  of  violent  and  perhaps  turbulent  character,  was  a 
man  of  property  and  influence,  an  acknowledged  leader  in 
that  part  of  the  Country,  and  as  bold  as  he  was  intent  upon 
vindicating  the  rights  of  the  people.  It  Avas  necessary, 
therefore,  if  a  Government  whose  authority  was  now  on 
the  wane,  was  to  be  supported,  that  prompt  and  stringent 
measures  should  be  adopted.  In  Council,  August  3rd, 
"  His  Honor  observed  to  the  Board,  that  his  Majesty  had 


'  Couucil  Journal,"  No.  34,  pp.  194,  195, 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CKERAWS.  141 

publisliccl  a  very  strong  Proclamation  in  England  on 
acconnt  of  tlie  late  riots  near  London,  and  desired  the 
opinion  of  the  Boai-d  if  it  might  not  be  proper  to  issue  some- 
thing similar  to  it  here,  on  account  of  the  Riots  in  some  of 
the  Back  Settlements.  The  Board  were  of  oj)inion  that  it 
■svould  be  proper ;  and  the  following  draught  of  a  Proclama- 
tion being  approved  of,  it  was  ordered  to  be  prepared." 

"  South  Carolina. 
"  By  the  Hon^'  W'-  Bull,  Esq.,  Gov'"-  and  Commander- 
in-Chief  in  and  over  the  said  Province. 

"  A  Proclamation. 
*'  Whereas,  it  has  been  represented  to  me,  that  divers 
dissolute  and  disorderly  persons  have  of  late  frequently 
assembled  themselves  together  in  the  North- Western  Parts 
of  this  Province,  in  a  riotous  and  unlawful  manner,  to  the 
disturbance  of  the  public  Peace,  and  in  particular  have,  in 
the  most  illegal  manner,  taken  upon  them  to  whip  and  con- 
fine several  persons,  under  the  pretence  of  punishing  them 
for  crimes  which  they  have  charged  against  them,  instead  of 
delivering  them  into  the  hands  of  public  Justice,  and  have 
daringly  resisted  the  execution  of  the  King's  Process; 
and  that  these  acts  of  violence  have  been  accompanied  with 
threats  of  still  greater  outrages,  which  have  spread  terror 
and  alarm  amongst  those  most  likely  to  be  affected  thereby ; 
and  that  some  of  those  dissolute  and  disorderly  persons  have 
audaciously  attempted  to  deter  and  intimidate  the  Civil 
Magistrates  from  doing  their  duty — I  have  taken  the  same 
into  serious  consideration,  and  being  duly  sensible  of  the 
mischievous  consequences  that  may  ensue  from  the  con- 
tinuance and  repetition  of  such  disorders,  have  thought  fit, 
by  and  with  the  advice  of  his  Majesty's  Hon^-  Council,  to 
issue  this  my  Proclamation,  hereby  strictly  requiring  and 
commanding  all  the  Justices,  the  Provost  Marshal,  and  all 
other  the  Peace  Officers  of  this  Province,  that  they  do 
severally  use  their  utmost  endeavours,  by  every  legal  means 
in  their  power,  effectually  to  prevent  and  suppress  all  such 
tumults  and  unlawful  assemblies,  and  to  that  end  to  put 
in  due  execution  the  laws  for  preventing,  suppressing,  and 


142  HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

punishing  tlie  same^  and  that  all  his  Majesty^s  dutiful  and 
loyal  subjects  be  aiding  and  assisting  therein  :  And  further, 
that  the  Magistrates  and  all  others  acting  in  obedience  to 
this  my  Proclamation,  may  rely  on  the  protection  and  sup- 
port of  the  law  in  so  doing,  as  they  shall  answer  at  their 
peril  for  the  neglect  thereof.  Given  under  my  hand  and 
the  great  seal  of  his  Majesty^s  said  Province,  at  Charles- 
town,  this  third  Day  of  August,  1768,  and  in  the  eighth  year 
of  his  Majesty's  reign.  «  William  Bull. 

"  By  Lis  Honor's  conimaad, 

"  Tho^  Skettowe,  Sect^. 

''  God  save  the  King.^'^ 
This  measm-e,  however,  being  deemed  insufficient,  further 
action  was  taken.  In  Council,  August  5th,  "  His  Honor 
the  Lieu*'  Gov'"-  observed,  that  several  of  the  People  who  had 
associated  with  the  Regulators  had  been  unwarily  led  into 
the  tumultuous  proceedings  they  had  been  engaged  in,  and 
had  also  been  greatly  provoked  thereto  by  the  repeated 
losses  they  had  sustained  from  the  villainous  gangs  of  Horse- 
Thieves  that  infested  those  parts ;  and  that  he  was  of 
opinion  that  if  a  promise  of  a  free  pardon  was  to  be  offered 
to  them  for  outrages  already  committed,  it  would  probably 
disperse  them  and  restore  peace  and  tranquillity  to  the 
Back  parts  of  this  Province  ;  and  a  majority  of  the  Board 
agreeing  with  his  Honor  in  opinion  that  the  effect  of  such 
a  Proclamation  should  be  tried ;  the  following  draught  of  a 
Proclamation  being  approved  of,  it  was  ordered  to  be  pub- 
lished. 

"  A  Proclamation. 

"  South  Carolina, 

"  By  the  Hon*^-  W"-  Bull,  &c. 

"  Whereas,  by  the  advice  of  his  Majesty's  Hon^'  Council,  I 
did,  on  the  3rd  day  of  August  ins*-  issue  my  Proclamation, 
reciting,  that  it  having  been  represented  to  me  that  divers 
dissolute  and  disorderly  persons  had  of  late  fi^equently 
assembled  themselves  together  in  the  North-Western  parts 
of  this  Province,  in  a  riotous  and  unlawful  manner,  to  the 
disturbance    of  the   public   Peace ;  and  particularly  had,  in 


*  "  Council  Journal,"  No.  2i,  pp.  203-204. 


IIISTOKY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  143 

the  most  illegal  manner^  taken  upon  themselves  to  Avliip 
and  confine  several  persons,  under  pretence  of  punishing 
them  for  crimes  which  they  had  charged  against  them, 
instead  of  delivering  them  into  the  hands  of  Public  Justice, 
and  had  daringly  resisted  the  King^s  Process,  and  that  their 
acts  of  violence  had  been  accompanied  with  threats  of  still 
greater  outrages,  which  had  spread  terror  and  alarm  amongst 
those  most  likely  to  be  immediately  affected  thereby  ;  and 
that  the  said  disorderly  persons  had  audaciously  attempted 
to  deter  and  intimidate  the  Civil  Magistrate  from  doing  his 
duty ;  and  I,  having  taken  the  same  into  my  serious  con- 
sideration, did  think  proper  thereby  strictly  to  enjoin  and 
command  the  Justices,  Provost  Marshal,  and  all  other  the 
Peace  Officers  of  this  Province,  to  use  their  utmost  endea- 
voiu's,  by  every  legal  means  in  their  power,  to  prevent  and 
suppress  all  such  tumults  and  unlawful  assemblies ;  and  to 
that  end  to  put  in  due  execution  the  laws  for  preventing, 
suppressing,  and  punishing  the  same,  assuring  them  and  all 
others  acting  in  obedience  thereto,  of  the  protection  and  sup- 
port of  the  law  in  so  doing  :  But  forasmuch  as  it  has  also 
been  further  represented,  and  appears  unto  me,  that  very  many 
of  the  persons  concerned  in  the  said  acts  of  violence,  have 
unwarily  been  drawn  in,  and  even  provoked  thereto  by  the 
great  and  repeated  losses  they  have  sustained  from  the 
gangs  of  Robbers  and  Banditti  who  infested  those  parts,  and 
who  were  become  the  more  dangerous  and  daring  by  being 
confederated  in  numerous  bodies,  and  it  was  thereby  ren- 
dered difficult  to  bring  them  to  Public  Justice  :  I,  there- 
fore, taking  the  same  into  my  serious  consideration,  and 
being  willing,  under  such  circumstances,  rather  to  prevent 
than  to  inflict  the  punishment  due  to  such  outrageous  and 
illegal  proceedings,  do,  by  and  with  the  advice  of  his 
^lajesty^s  Hon''  Council,  issue  this  my  Proclamation,  hereby 
strictly  commanding  and  requiring  all  persons  so  unlaw- 
fully assembled  to  disperse  themselves  and  repair  peaceably 
to  their  respective  homes  and  occupations,  and  forbidding 
them  and  all  persons  hereafter,  at  their  utmost  peril,  so  to 
assemble  again  ;  and  I  do  promise  his  Majesty^s  most  gra- 
cious Pardon  for  the  misdemeanors  by  them  committed  at 
any  time  before  the  date  hereof  in  so  unlawfully  assembling, 


144  HISTOliY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEKAWS. 

whipping  or  confining  any  person  or  persons  as  aforesaid, 
to  all  such  as  shall  forthwith  pay  due  obedience  to  this  my 
Proclamation,  excepting  to  those  j^ersons  concerned  in  the 
outrages  and  daring  violences  committed  by  Gideon  Gibson 
and  others  upon  George  Thompson,  a  lawful  constable,  and 
his  party,  in  the  actual  execution  of  a  legal  warrant,  at  or 
near  Mars  Bluff,  in  Craven  County,  upon  the  25th  day  of 
July  last.  Given  under  my  hand,  and  the  Great  Seal  of  the 
Province,  &c.,  this  6th  August,  1768. 

"Wm.  Bull.''* 

This  was  followed,  two  days  after,  by  the  following  state- 
ment in  the  South  Carolina  Gazette  : — ''  Tuesday  last,  the 
Proclamation  inserted  in  the  first  page  of  this  paper  was 
published  in  the  usual  manner ;  and  on  Saturday  there  was 
another,  which  is  not  come  into  our  hands.  A  variety  of 
reports  continue  to  be  circulated  in  different  ways,  and  no 
doubt  with  different  views,  of  the  Proceedings  and  Inten- 
tions of  the  People  called  Regulators,  in  the  North  Westernf 
part  of  this  Province,  some  of  them  very  alarming  :  amongst 
others,  that  2  or  3000  of  them  were  to  assemble  on  Thurs- 
day, at  the  Congarees,  for  very  unjustifiable  purposes  ;  but 
we  are  assured,  that  the  People  so  met,  or  to  meet,  are  not 
so  considerable  a  body,  and  have  only  in  view  to  be  in- 
formed of  the  Bounds  of  the  Respective  Parishes  to  which 
they  belong  (the  lines  of  which  have  been  but  lately  run), 
that  they  may  not  lose  the  right  of  voting  for  Representa- 
tives of  their  own  nomination,  at  their  next  general  election, 
whenever  the  law  gives  it  them."*' 

August  15th,  the  Gazette  said  : — "The  outrageous  oppo- 
sition lately  o  fife  red  to  the  Civil  authority  near  Mars  Bluff, 
on  Pedee  River,  being  at  present  a  general  subject  of  con- 
versation, and  by  many  attributed  to  the  People  called 
Regulators,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  lay  before  the  public  the 
following  information,  viz.  :  That  there  are  two  parties  so 
called,  and  the  proceedings  of  the  one  frequently  con- 
founded with  those  of  the  other.  That  the  first  (called  the 
Honest  party)  consists   in  general  of  people  of  good  prin- 


*  "  Council  Journal,"  No.  34,  pp.  208-211. 
f  It  should  rather  have  heen  "  North  Eastern,"  &c. 


HISTORY    OF   THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  145 

ciples  and  property,  avIio  have  assembled  eliiefly  about  the 
Coiigarees,  the  Ridge,  &c.,  professedly  -with  the  view  of 
driving  all  horse  thieves,  with  their  harbourcrs,  abettoi's, 
and  other  vagabonds,  from  amongst  them ;  and  that  the 
other  (called  the  Rogues'  party)  are  a  gang  of  banditti,  a 
numerous  collection  of  outcast  Mulattoes,  Mustees,  Free 
Negroes,  &c.,  all  horse  thieves  from  the  borders  of  Virginia 
and  other  Northern  Colonies  (the  very  people  whom  the 
Regulators  would  have  expelled  the  Province,  or  brought  to 
Justice),  and  have  taken  up  arms  to  carry  on  their  villainy 
with  impunity.  The  last  accounts  we  have  received  of  both 
are.  That  the  former,  on  the  16*^  past,  took  up  one  Charles 
Sparks,  of  infamous  character,  on  Pedee,  and  ordered  him  to 
receive  500  lashes  and  quit  the  Province  :  and  of  the  latter, 
that  an  armed  company  of  them,  headed  by  one  Gideon 
Gibson,  on  the  25^*^  past,  near  Mars-bluff,  surrounded  a 
Constable  and  12  men,  who  were  sent  to  bring  one  of  the 
villains  before  a  magistrate,  and  after  a  smart  skirmish, 
Avhereiu  two  of  the  Constable's  party  were  mortally  wounded, 
and  one  shot  through  the  shoulder,  took  the  rest  Prisoners, 
whom  he  discharged,  after  ordering  them  50  lashes  each.  In 
the  skirmish,  Gibson  had  one  of  his  sons  killed,  and  another 
wounded  in  the  neck.  Proper  measures  are  taken  to  bring 
the  principals  of  this  desperate  gang  to  Justice." 

On  the  22nd  August,  the  Gazette  said : — "  We  are  sorry 
that  we  cannot  have  the  pleasure  of  informing  the  public, 
that  either  of  the  Proclamations  issued  by  his  Honor  the 
Lieu*  Gov'  on  the  S""*^  and  6'^  ins*^,  are  likely  to  produce  the 
desired  effects ;  Gideon  Gibson  declining  to  surrender  on 
any  terms ;  having  put  himself  under  the  protection  of 
people  that  do  not  at  present  seem  disposed  to  give  him  up. 
This  man's  character,  we  are  told,  always  stood  fair,  till  he 
lately  became  the  tool  of  a  Party,  who  committed  the  out- 
rages near  Mars-bluff,  mentioned  in  our  last." 

The  Gazette,  from  which  the  preceding  extracts  are  taken, 
was  in  the  interest  of  the  Government,  and  therefore  dis- 
posed to  cast  as  much  odium  as  possible  on  every  proceeding 
in  which  the  people  arrayed  themselves  against  the  consti- 
tuted authorities  of  the  Province.  At  first  the  Regulators 
were  spoken  of  in  terms  of  unmeasured  condemnation ;  but, 

L 


146  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

as  the  fact  became  known  that  they  embraced  the  best  people 
in  the  interior  settlements,  the  tone  of  the  press,  as  well  as 
of  the  Government,  became  very  much  softened.  To  Gibson, 
however,  no  mercy  was  to  be  shown.  He  was  made  to 
appear  as  one  of  the  Rogues'  party.  How  far  this  was  from 
being  the  case  will  appear  in  the  sequel. 

Immediately  after  the  receipt  of  the  intclHgence  in 
Charles-town,  Col.  Powell,  of  the  Pedee  Regiment,  with  the 
Provost  Marshal,  was  despatched  to  the  interior  to  quell 
the  disturbance.  In  Council,  26th  August,  His  Honor, 
Wm.  Bull,  informed  the  Board,  that  Roger  Pinckney,  Esq., 
the  Provost  Marshal,  had  returned  from  the  Northward,  for 
which  place  he  had  set  out  with  warrants  against  Gibson, 
one  of  the  Regulators,  and  that  he  had,  by  him,  received 
the  following  letter  from  Col.  Powell : — 

"  To  the  Hon^  W"  Bull,  &c. 
"  Hon^  Sir, 

"  On  the  9th  ins*  I  set  out  with  Mr. 
Pinckney  for  Mars-bluff,  and  reached  Lynchers  Creek,  dis- 
tance 42  miles,  that  uight,  where  we  were  joined  by  about 
25  of  the  Posse  Comitatus ;  and  the  following  evening 
arrived  at  Mars-bluff,  distance  30  miles ;  at  which  place  we 
found  15  men  of  Capt.  Weaver^'s  company,  and  were  the  day 
following  reinforced  by  20  men  of  Capt.  Thomson^s  com- 
pany. It  appeared  to  us,  by  all  accounts,  that  Gibson  was 
guarded  by  a  large  body  of  men,  and  could  in  an  hour  raise 
300  more.  Mr.  Pinckney  and  myself  thought  it  prudent 
that  I  should  send  orders  to  the  Captains,  Pledger,  Hicks, 
and  Mcintosh,  and  to  the  Lieutenants,  Clary  and  Michael, 
to  join  us  with  20  men  of  each  of  their  Company s,'^  at  Mars- 
bluff,  the  15th  ins*,  under  the  hopeful  expectation  of  being 
able  to  prevail  on  these  gentlemen  to   assist  us   readily  in 


*  In  the  private  journal  of  Rev.  Nicholas  Bedgegood,  then  pastor  of  the 
Welch  Neck  Church  at  Long  Bluff,  this  entry  appears  during  the  year  1768  : — 
"  Sunday,  14th  August.  No  sermon,  on  acct.  of  march  of  ye  Companies  to 
Mars-bluff." 

Until  the  letter  of  Colonel  Powell  was  found,  the  author  had  no  clue  to  the 
purport  of  this  entry,  and  was  for  a  time  wholly  at  a  loss  to  explain  it,  not  having 
heard  of  the  tradition  which  had  come  down  in  the  neighborhood,  of  Gibson's 
fight  at  Bass's  Mills,  «&,c. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  147 

taking  Gibson,  Lance,  &c.  Mr.  Pinckney  being  informed 
that  Gibson  would  surrender  himself,  and  desirous  of  accom- 
plishing his  purpose  in  the  most  prudent  manner,  nor  will- 
ing to  risk  the  lives  of  those  of  the  King's  subjects  he  had 
with  him,  by  opposing  them  against  such  unequal  numbers, 
agreed  with  me  in  opinion,  that  my  inviting  Gibson  to  meet 
me  in  a  certain  place  in  the  woods,  where  he  and  I  might 
be  alone,  and  there  talking  the  matter  calmly  over  with  him, 
might  perhaps  have  a  good  eH'ect,  I  wrote  to  Mr.  Gibson, 
and  met  him  accordingly,  on  Sunday,  the  14th,  where,  after 
an  hour  and  an  half's  conversation,  he  solemnly  promised 
to  deliver  himself  up  to  Mr.  Pinckney  the  following  Mon- 
day, 8  o'clock  in  the  forenoon ;  and,  indeed,  I  had  not  the 
least  doubt  but  that  the  man  would  have  fulfilled  his  pro- 
mise. However,  when  the  time  came  about,  I  found  myself 
egregiously  mistaken ;  for,  instead  of  coming,  he  wrote  me 
a  letter,  signifying  that  he  had  altered  his  resolution,  and 
would  not  sm-reuder  himself.  About  10  o'clock,  that  day, 
j\Ionday  the  loth,  Mr.  Claudius  Pegues  came  to  Mars-bluff', 
and  assured  me  he  would  render  all  the  service  in  his 
power,  seemed  to  know  nothing  of  Gibson's  measures,  nor 
the  intentions  of  the  Captains,*  Pledger,  Hicks  and  M'ln- 
tosh,  and  Lieutenants  Clary  and  INIichael,  who  arrived  about 
noon ;  di-awing  up  theii*  company  in  the  woods  at  half  a 
mile's  distance  from  \Yeaver's  house.  Mr.  Pegnes  then  told 
us,  they  did  not  intend  to  advance  any  further.  Whei'C- 
upon,  Mr.  Pinckney  and  myself,  together  with  Pegnes,  went 
to  meet  them  ;  where,  to  our  surprise,  we  found,  instead  of 
100,  300  men  and  upsvards.  I  acquainted  the  officers  with 
the  occasion  of  my  calling  upon  them,  and  the  service  ex- 
pected from  them. 

"  Mr.  Pinckney  also  acquainted  them  with  his  errand  in 
these  parts,  read  to  them  his  authority,  and  your  Honor's 
Proclamation,  and  demanded  their  aid  accordingly.  Which, 
instead  of  paying  any  regard  to,  they  absolutely  refused,  as 


*  These  were  John  Pledger,  George  Hicks,  and  Alexander  M'Intosh,  among 
the  most  promhient  and  influential  men  on  Pedee,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Long 
Bluff",  as  was  John  Mikell — and  all  distinguished  afterwards  in  the  Revolution. 
Mr.  Pegnes  was  the  first  member  elect  to  the  Assembly,  from  St.  David's, 
showing  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  deservedly  held. 


148  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Gibson,  they  said,  was  one  of  them  (Regulators),  and  had 
applied  to  them  for  protection, 

"  They  said  much  about  certain  grievances  which  they 
conceived  themselves  labouring  under,  for  the  want  of  County 
Courts,  and  the  exorbitant  expense  of  the  Law,  as  it  now 
stands.  It  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  we  could  per- 
suade them  to  march  to  Weaver's,  against  whom  they  ex- 
press much  resentment.  However,  as  victuals  were  pro- 
vided for  them  there,  and  I  was  in  hopes  of  bringing  them 
into  better  temper^  by  taking  opportunity  of  conversing 
with  the  leading  men  singly,  I  put  myself  at  the  head,  as 
their  Colonel,  and  marched  them  to  Weaver's  house,  where 
both  Mr.  Pinckney  and  myself  took  great  pains  to  point  out 
to  them  the  mistakes  they  were  running  into,  prompted,  as 
it  appears  evidently  to  us  they  were,  by  some  turbulent,  de- 
signing persons.  Mr.  Pegnes  seemed  to  be  an  active  man 
amongst  them,  and  is  a  person  pitched  upon  to  represent 
them  in  the  next  General  Assembly;  for  which  purpose,  a 
subscription  is  already  set  on  foot  to  bear  his  expenses.  To 
enter  into  a  detail  of  their  unprecedented  beha^dour,  would 
be  drawing  this  letter  to  too  great  a  length,  and  I  must  beg 
leave  to  refer  your  Honour  to  Mr.  Pinckney. 

"  Only  I  would  observe  that,  notwithstanding  I  had  heard 
much  of  the  notorious  behaviour  of  the  Regulators  in  gene- 
ral, yet,  as  several  of  them  are  men  of  good  property,  I 
flattered  myself  they  might  be  open  to  conviction,  and  in- 
duced to  admit  that  the  method  they  were  pursuing  was 
not  the  proper  mode  to  bring  about  their  wished-for  pur- 
pose ;  but,  to  my  astonishment,  I  found  all  arguments  lost 
upon  them,  and  I  am  ashamed  to  tell  your  Honor,  that  if 
there  had  not  been  left  amongst  them  some  faint  regard 
for  their  Colonel,  the  Provost  Marshal  would  have  been 
grossly  abused,  a  scheme  having  been  laid  for  that  purpose. 

"  These  people  proposed  to  Alran,^  his  releasement ;  and 


*  OP  Alrau,  to  whom  Colonel  Powell  here  refers,  nothing  is  known.     In  the 
journal  of  Mr.  Bedgegood,  this  entry  is  found : — 

[1768.]     "  Sunday,  5th  June,  Mr.  Alran  taken  by  the  Regulators." 
If  he  had,  prior  to  this  time,  made  himself  obnoxious  to  the  civil  authorities, 
and  been  rescued  by  the  Regulators,  it  would  seem  that  he  was  seized  a  second 
time,  and  would  have  been  released  again  had  he  desired  it. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OJ?D    CHERAWS.  149 

it  was  only  owing  to   himself,   the   Provost   JNlarshal   coukl 
bring  him  to  toAvn. 

'^  Upon  the  Avhole,  Sir,  these  disturbances  seem  to  have  so 
dismal  a  tendency,  that  I  am  at  a  loss  to  guess  where  they 
may  terminate,  and  I  think  I  may  uoav  say  with  safety,  that 
unless  some  speedy  measures  are  fallen  upon  to  put  a  stop 
to  them,  the  consequence  will  be  very  shocking.  I  cannot, 
with  any  propriety,  continue  to  be  Colonel  of  a  Regiment 
of  ]\Iiiitia,  amongst  Avhom  I  have  the  mortification  to  find 
myself  of  so  little  Aveight  as  not  to  have  been  able  to  per- 
suade them  to  do  the  duty  they  owe  to  their  King  and 
Country.  I  must  therefore  beg  leave  to  resign  my  commis- 
sion, and  I  would  haA^e  enclosed  it  to  your  Honor,  but  that 
I  lost  it  on  my  return  from  KeeoAvee,  in  fording  Broad 
River.  In  consequence  of  my  promise,  I  enclose  to  your 
Honor  a  letter  from  the  Officers  of  the  Regiment  respecting 
Captain  Weaver. 

"  I  am,  Avith  great  respect, 

"  Honorable  Sir, 
"  Your  most  obedient,  humble  Servant, 

"  G.   G.   P0A\ELL. 

"  Weymouth,  19th  August,  1768." 

"  His  Honor  also  informed  the  Board  that  he  had  re- 
ceived a  copy  of  a  letter,  directed  to  the  ProA'Ost  Marshal, 
which  was  delivered  him  by  a  waggoner  in  the  Back  Coun- 
try, threatening  his  Deputies,  if  they  offered  to  serA^e  any 
process  in  those  parts,  and  advising  them  not  to  send  them 
up,  as  they  were  determined  to  pay  no  obedience  to  any 
process  issued  from  Charles-town.  His  Honor  informed 
the  Board  that  he  had  written  an  account  of  these  matters 
to  his  Excellency,  the  Governor,  and  that  he  proposed,  in  a 
week  or  ten  days^  time,  to  dissolve  the  Assembly,  and  to 
call  a  ncAv  one,  which  Avould  be  ready  to  meet  about  the 
time  his  Lordship  might  be  expected  to  return  into  the 
Pro\ince."* 

The  interesting  letter  of  Colonel  Powell  discloses  the  fact, 
how  much  deceived  and  disappointed  he  was  as  to  the  feel- 


Council  Journal,"  No.  3Jr,  pp.  219-22,-j 


150  HISTORY    OF  "'the    OLD    CHERAWS, 

iug  of  the  officers  and  companies  from  Long  Bluff,  with 
respect  to  Gibson  and  his  proceedings,  as  well  as  to  the 
course  of  the  Government  in  general.  Loyal  yet  in  his 
o\ra  sentiments,  and  not  haAing  felt,  perhaps,  as  others  had 
done,  the  grievances  of  which  they  so  justly  complained,  he 
was  at  a  loss  to  account  for  their  conduct.  His  visit  to 
Broad  Biver  was  probably  made  in  the  service  of  the  Go- 
vernment, to  assist  in  quieting  disturbances  in  that  region. 
He  appears,  after  all,  to  have  retained  his  commission ;  and 
what  is  more  remarkable  still,  not  to  have  forfeited  the  con- 
fidence and  affection  of  the  people  on  the  Pedee,  ha^dng 
been  afterward,  for  several  years  in  succession,  the  Bepre- 
sentative  from  St.  David^s  Parish*  in  the  Commons  House 
of  Assembly,  and  cherishing  himself,  to  the  close  of  his 
useful  life,  the  deepest  interest  in  all  that  related  to  the 
welfare  of  that  Parish. 

Colonel  PowelFs  letter  also  corrects  the  tradition,t  as  it 
had  come  down  in  a  most  distorted  shape,  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  the  fight,  in  which  Gibson  bore  so  pro- 
minent a  part. 

The  result,  upon  the  whole,  as  the  affair  ended,  was  of 
much  importance.  The  popular  feeling  became  deeper  and 
more  determined  than  ever.  The  line  was  now,  as  it  was 
henceforth  to   be,  distinctly  drawn.      And   the   Government 


*  St.  David's  Parish  had  been  estabhshcd  hi  April  of  this  year  (1768). 

■j-  The  tradition  was  related  to  the  author  by  the  late  Hugh  Godbold,  of 
Marion  District,  as  he  had  heard  it  in  his  younger  days  from  some  aged 
persons  who  were  cotemporaries  of  Gibson.  According  to  that  account,  the 
Regulators  came  down  froin  North  Carolina,  increasing  in  numbers  as  they 
came,  and  headed  by  Weaver,  White,  and  Gurley.  Crossing  the  river  at 
Mars  Bluff,  they  went  up  to  what  has  since  been  known  as  Bass's  Mill,  on 
Naked  Creek,  where  an  island  was  formed  by  a  bend  in  the  Creek,  and  a 
channel  cut  across  the  mouth  of  the  bend  for  mill  purposes. 

On  the  island  they  found  Gil)son  strongly  posted,  at  the  head  of  the 
citizens.  He  defeated  them,  killing  several,  taking  the  rest  prisoners,  and  giving 
them  fifty  lashes  apiece.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  a  conflict  took  place  at  the 
point  described,  which  was  not  far  from  Gibson's  residence ;  but  it  was  that 
bet^veen  Gibson's  party  and  the  Constable's,  confounded  by  the  tradition  with  the 
march  of  the  companies  afterward  to  Mars  Bluff,  as  it  was  also  erroneously 
related  that  the  companies  had  come  down  from  above  under  Weaver,  Gurley, 
&c.  This  spot  was  but  a  few  years  after  the  scene  of  a  bloody  conflict  between  the 
Whigs  and  Tories  in  the  Revolution,  of  which  some  account  will  be  given.  The 
author  visited  the  locality  in  company  with  Mr.  Godbold.  The  facts  above 
related  show  how,  even  in  a  generation  or  two,  past  events  may  be  perverted 
by  tradition. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CllERAWS.  151 

was  from  the  first,  perhaps,  fully  aroused  to  the  magnitude  of 
the  issues  involved,  as  avcII  as  the  futility  of  the  measures 
Avhich  had  been  adopted  to  quell  the  rising  spirit  of  oppo- 
sition throughout  the  back  parts  of  the  Provinee. 

His  Honor  and  his  Majesty's  Couneil  must  have  felt 
grave  apprehensions  now,  if  never  before,  that  Proclama- 
tions, prosecutions,  and  official  action  of  Avhatever  kind, 
would  be  unavailing,  if  timely  concessions  were  not  made 
to  the  just  and  long-continued  demands  of  the  people.  The 
necessity  for  Ch'cuit  Courts  could  no  longer  be  denied.  The 
Government  at  home,  yielding  to  the  pressure  which  it  had 
been  unable  to  resist,  lent  its  active  aid  in  effecting  so  de- 
sirable an  object,  and  in  less  than  a  year,  a  Bill  to  that 
efifect  became  law.  In  the  meantime,  the  Regulators  con- 
tinued to  meet,  and  to  keep  up  their  organization."^  On 
the  2nd  of  September,  there  apj)eared  in  the  Gazette,  the 
following  ''extract  of  a  letter  from  a  Gentleman  at  Pedee, 
to  his  friend  in  Town  "  : — "  I  wish  you  would  inform  me 
Avliat  is  generally  thought  in  town  of  the  Regulators,  who 
now  reign  uncontrolled  in  all  the  remote  parts  of  the  Pro- 
vince. In  June,  they  held  a  Congress  at  the  Congarees, 
where  a  vast  number  of  people  assembled ;  several  of  the 
principal  settlers  on  this  River,  men  of  property,  among 
them.  When  these  returned,  they  requested  the  most 
respectable  people  in  these  parts  to  meet  on  a  certain  day ; 
they  did  so,  and,  upon  the  report  made  to  them,  they 
unanimously  adopted  the  Plan  of  Regulation,  and  are  now 
executing  it  with  indefatigable  ardour.  Their  resolution  is, 
in  general,  effectuall}^  to  deny  the  Jurisdiction  of  the 
Courts  holden  in  Charles-town  over  those  parts  of  the  Pro- 
vince that  ought  to  be  by  right  out  of  it;  to  purge,  by 
methods  of  their  own,  the  country  of  all  idle  persons,  all 
that  have  not  a  visible  way  of  getting  an  honest  living,  all 
that  are  suspected  or  known  to  be  guilty  of  malpractices, 
and  also  to  prevent  the  service  of  any  writ  or  warrant  from 
Charles-town ;  so  that  a  Deputy  ISIarshal  woiild  be  handled 
by  them  with  severity.      Against  those  they  breathe  high  in- 

*  In  Mr.  Pugh's  journal  the  following  and  like  entries  are  found  : — "  Aug. 
16th,  Went  over  the  Marsh  to  a  meeting  of  the  Regulators."  "  Septr.  12. 
Went  to  Miirphce's.     Regulators  met  there." 


152  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

dignation.  They  are  every  day/ excepting  Sundays^  employed 
in  this  Regulation  work,  as  they  term  it.  They  have  brought 
many  under  the  lash,  and  are  scourging  and  banishing  the 
baser  sort  of  people,  such  as  the  above,  with  universal 
diligence, 

"  Such  as  they  think  reclaimable,  they  are  a  little  tender 
of;  and  those  they  task,  giving  them  so  many  acres  to  tend 
in  so  many  days,  on  pain  of  flagellation,  that  they  may  not 
be  reduced  to  poverty,  and  by  that  be  led  to  steal  from 
their  industrious  neighbours.  This  course,  they  say,  they 
are  determined  to  pursue,  with  every  other  effectual  mea- 
sure, that  will  answer  their  purpose ;  and  that  they  will 
defend  themselves  in  it  to  the  last  extremity.  They  hold 
correspondence  with  others  in  the  same  plan,  and  are  engaged 
to  abide  by  and  support  each  other  whenever  they  may  he 
called  upon  for  that  purpose.  This,  it  seems,  they  are  to 
continue  till  County  Courts,  as  well  as  Circuit  Courts, 
shall  be  rightly  established,  that  they  may  enjoy,  by  that 
means,  the  rights  and  privileges  of  British  subjects,  which 
they  think  themselves  now  deprived  of.  They  imagine  that, 
as  the  Jurisdiction  of  the  Courts  in  Charles-town  extends  all 
over  the  Province,  Government  is  not  a  protection,  but  an 
oppression  ;  that  they  are  not  tried  there  by  their  Peers ; 
and  that  the  accumulated  expenses  of  a  law-suit,  or  prosecu- 
tion, puts  justice  out  of  their  power ;  by  which  means  the 
honest  man  is  not  secure  in  his  property,  and  villainy  be- 
comes rampant  with  impunity. 

"  Indeed,  the  grievances  they  complain  of  are  many,  and 
the  spirit  of  Regulation  rises  higher  and  spreads  wider  every 
day.  What  this  is  to  end  in,  I  know  not ;  but  thus  matters 
are  situated;  an  account  of  which,  I  imagine,  is  not  unac- 
ceptable, though  perhaps  disagreeable  to  hear.^^"^ 

This  letter,  singularly  calm  in  its  tone  for  a  time  of  such 
general  and  intense  excitement,  appears  to  have  been  written 
by  some  one  who  was  yet  loyal  in  his  feelings  toward  the 
Mother  Country. 

It  may  be  regarded,  upon  the  whole,  as  an  impartial 
account   of  the    Regulation  movement,    and    exhibits     the 


Gazette,  August  26,  September  2,  1768. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  153 

character  of  those  who  Avcre  taking  the  lead  in  the  matter, 
as  well  as  the  lavidahle  objects  they  proposed  to  accomplish. 
A  few  days  after,  September  12th,  we  find  this  account  in 
the  Gazette  ; — "  On  Thursday  last,  the  General  Assembly  of 
this  Province  was  dissolved  by  Proclamation,  and  writs  for  the 
General  Election  of  new  Representatives,  we  hear,  will  be 
signed  and  issued  on  Thursday  next  :  so  that  it  is  probable  the 
election  days  may  be  fixed  for  Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  the 
4^*^  and  5"^,  and  the  day  for  the  meeting  of  the  next  General 
Assembly,  for  JNIonday,  the  25*''  of  next  month.  The  People 
called  Regulators  have  lately  severely  chastised  one  Lum, 
who  is  come  to  Town  ;  but  we  have  not  yet  learnt  the  real 
cause  for  this  severity  to  him.  A  letter  from  Pine  Tree 
Hill  (Camden),  dated  the  6*''  ins*,  contains  the  following 
intelligence,  viz.  :  The  Regulators  have  fixed  upon  the  5*''  of 
next  month  to  have  a  meeting  here,  to  draw  up  their  grie- 
vances, in  order  to  be  laid  before  the  new  Assembly.  2500 
or  3000  of  them,  from  St.  Mark's  and  St.  David's  Parishes, 
are  to  rendezvous,  on  the  10th,  at  Eutaw,  and  thence  pro- 
ceed to  Charles-town,  to  pursue  the  proper  measures  for 
Redress.  The  Regulators  from  the  Congaree,  Broad,  and 
Saludy  Rivers,  are  not  to  proceed  to  Town,  unless  sent  for  by 
their  brethren  ;  but  ]  500  of  them  are  to  hold  themselves 
in  readiness,  in  ease  they  should  be  wanted.  They  do  not 
intend  the  least  injury  to  any  person  iu  Town,  desiring  only 
provision  and  quarter  till  their  complaints  shall  be  heard. 
The  confusion  in  North  Carolina  is  still  greater  than  in 
this  Province  ;  where  the  People  of  Orange  County  again 
threaten  Col.  Fanning,  and  refuse  paying  any  Taxes,  till  an 
Act,  granting  an  enormous  sum  for  building  a  House  for  the 
Governor,  be  repealed  ;  so  that  Gov'"  Tryon  has  been  obliged 
to  draught  2000  men  from  Mecklenburgh  and  Dobbs 
Counties,  to  overawe  them,  who  are  to  march  from  the  Town 
of  jSIecklenburgh  the  12th  ins*.  Two  of  their  Leaders  have 
been  seciired,but  it's  apprehended  they  will  be  released  before 
they  can  be  brought  to  Trial,  as  the  People  in  general  com- 
plain loudly  of  the  above-mentioned  Act,  as  a  Great  Grie- 
vance, as  well  as  of  that  laying  a  Duty  on  Paper,  Glass,  &c., 
which  will  soon  di'ain  from  them  what  little  specie  they 
have.     Their  paper  Currency  being  mostly  sunk,  and  a  Poll 


154  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Tax  of  eleven  shillings  Proclamation  money^  does  not  fail  to 
add  to  the  distresses  of  that  Country/' 

The  next  intelligence  from  the  interior  was  of  a  more 
cheering  character.  The  Gazette  of  September  26th  says  : 
"  The  People  in  the  Back  Settlements  of  this  Country,  we 
hear,  are  now  perfectly  quiet,  having  almost  thoroughly 
expelled  the  dangerous  set  of  Horse  Thieves  and  Vagrants 
that  were  becoming  formidable  amongst  them  ;  and  they 
will  probably  continue  so  (his  Honor  the  Lieutenant  Go- 
vernor's Proclamation  of  the  S""*^  ul*°,  having  had  a  very  good 
effect),  until  the  important  crisis  of  the  next  General  Elec- 
tion, which  takes  place  throughout  the  Province  on  Tuesday 
and  Wednesday  next  week  ;  or,  until  the  INIeeting  of  the 
General  Assembly,  when,  they  say,  they  will,  in  a  Constitu- 
tional way,  not  only  have  their  Grievances  heard,  but  also 
redressed,  so  far  as  it  may  appear  to  be  in  the  Power  of  the 
Legislature.  But,  the  Disturbances  in  North  Carolina  have 
not  subsided,  according  to  our  last  accounts  from  the  Back 
Counties  in  that  Province,  dated  the  IG**"  ins*,  his  Excel- 
lency, Gov'"  Tryon,  was  then  there,  and  to  proceed  from 
Salisbury  to  Orange  County,  the  22'"^  ins*,  but  not  likely 
to  succeed,  the  People  seeming  almost  unanimous  in  refus- 
ing to  submit  to  any  Laws  that  seemed  to  them  oppressive 
or  unconstitutional.  Further  particulars  must  be  deferred 
till  our  next.'' 

The  election  for  General  Assembly  was  now  drawing  near, 
and  much  trouble  apprehended  by  the  authorities.  But, 
the  opportunity  being  therein  presented  to  the  people  of 
expressing  their  own  will,  such  apprehensions  proved  to  be 
groundless.  The  Gazette  of  October  10th,  said,  as  to  this 
matter  : — "  Great  disorder  was  apprehended  in  several 
Country  Parishes,  at  the  General  Election  of  Representa- 
tives on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  last,  from  numbers  of  the 
People  called  Regulators  coming  down  from  the  Back  Settle- 
ments to  vote,  where  it  appeared  to  them  they  had  a  right ; 
but,  we  are  informed,  that  they  behaved  everywhere  with 
decency  and  propriety. 

"  They  mentioned  many  intolerable  grievances  they  had 
long  laboured  under,  and  seemed  to  have  most  immediately 
in  view,  a  more  equal  Representation  in  Assembly;  the  ob- 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  155 

taining,  without  loss  of  time,  an  Act  for  ascertaining  and 
better  regulating  public  officers^  feeS;,  especially  in  law  mat- 
ters ;  and,  another  for  establishing  County  Courts,  if  the 
Precinct  Court  law  lately  sent  home,  should  fail  to  receive 
the  royal  approbation." 

The  real  objects  of  tlic  Regulators  were  now  understood, 
and  justice  was  at  length  to  be  meted  out  to  their  motives 
and  conduct.  The  elections  had  passed  oflF  quietly,  not- 
withstanding the  fears  of  disorder  and  violence. 

In  the  Parish  of  St.  David's,  recently  organized,  and 
where  the  polls  were  opened  for  the  first  time,  militia  com- 
panies were  detailed  for  each  election  precinct,  to  preserve 
the  peace,  and  other  precautions  used  to  prevent  disturbance. 
But,  no  disposition  was  e\dnced  by  the  people  to  resort  to 
any  improper  measures. 

The  elective  franchise  was  one  of  those  rights  which  they 
were  most  anxious  to  exercise.  They  were  satisfied  it  would 
result  in  still  more  favourable  changes.  The  struggle  for 
constitutional  liberty  thus  commenced,  was  destined,  how- 
ever, to  continue,  and  to  encounter,  at  every  step  of  its  pro- 
gress, the  most  determined  opposition. 

The  news  now  on  the  way  from  England,  was  to  be  by 
no  means  cheering,  so  misguided  was  the  policy  persisted  in 
by  the  Mother  Country  towards  her  aggrieved  and  petitioning 
Colonists. 

The  Gazette  of  October  10th,  gave  the  following  informa- 
tion to  the  public : — "  Last  Thursday,  arrived  here  the  ship 
Beavfain,  Cap"  Da^-id  Curling,  in  45  days  from  the  Downs, 
by  whom  we  have  not  received  a  single  article  of  agreeable 
news  for  North  America.  Our  Circuit  Bill,  passed  the  12th 
of  April  last,  was  not  likely  to  receive  the  Royal  assent ;  so 
that  the  Back  Settlers,  or  People  called  Regulators,  in  this 
Province,  may,  in  all  probability,  obtain  what  they  seem 
more  anxious  to  obtain,  a  Bill  for  establishing  County 
Courts.'' 

"We  are  informed  that  the  People  called  Regulators, 
have  lately  brought  back  five  mortgaged  Negroes  from  North 
Carolina,  which  were  carried  off  by  an  absconding  debtor 
from  Pedee  :  that,  if  any  ci-editor  is  doubtful  of  a  debt  due 
there,  and  will  come  amongst  them,  they   have   offered  to 


156  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD  CHERAWS. 

protect  and  assist  liim  in  procuring  good  security  for  what- 
ever may  be  owing;  and,  if  that  cannot  be  obtained  (pro- 
vided he  brings  a  blank  writ  up),  to  deliver  the  debtor 
into  the  common  Gaol :  that  the  affair  of  Gibson^s  party  in 
July  last,  has  been  grossly  misrepresented :  and  that  they 
did  not  rendezvous,  as  it  was  proposed,  at  Eutaw,  on  the 
10th  inst.'' 

Ha\'ing  elected  Representatives  of  their  own  choice,  the 
Regulators  were  satisfied  to  leave  the  redress  of  grievances 
to  them  in  Assembly,  and  hence  the  failure  to  meet  at 
Eutaw,  as  was  intended.  The  public  statement,  that  the 
affair  of  Gibson  had  been  grossly  misrepresented  led  to  the 
following  account  in  the  Gazette  of  October  24th  :  "  If  we 
are  to  credit  the  Depositions  of  George  Thompson,  William 
Loving,  James  White,  Stephen  Sebastian,  Godfrey  Kerfey, 
John  Hollo  way,  Reuben  White,  and  William  White,  pro- 
duced to  us  by  Robert  Weaver,  Esq.  of  jNIars- Bluff,  the 
conduct  of  Gideon  Gibson  was  not  misrepresented  in  this 
Paper  of  15th  August  last,  unless  by  the  omission  of  some 
aggravating  circumstances.'"' 

So  well  had  the  facts  of  the  case  been  established,  how- 
ever, that  Gibson  and  his  friends  deemed  it  unnecessary  to 
reply  to  this.  Comparative  quiet  was  at  length  restored. 
The  claims  of  the  Regulators  were  respected  and  their  power 
acknowledged.  A  general  desire  was  now  felt  to  comply 
with  their  just  demands,  which  had  been  so  long  urged  in 
vain. 

On  the  15  th  November,  the  General  Assembly  met,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  St.  David's  Parish  were  represented  for 
the  first  time  by  one  of  their  own  choice,  in  the  person  of 
Claudius  Pegnes,  Esq.  On  17th  Nov''  his  Excellency,  C.  G. 
Montagu,  made  an  address  to  the  Commons  House  of 
Assembly,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : — "  I  shall 
now  only  recommend  to  your  attention,  the  falling  upon  some 
method  to  retrieve  the  distresses  of  your  fellow  subjects  in 
the  remote  parts  of  this  Province,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to 
discharge,  and,  if  possible,  entirely  to  prevent,  for  the  future, 
such  illegal  insurrections  as  have  for  some  mouths  past  ap- 
peared in  those  parts.      In  every  constitutional  measure  to 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS.  157 

promote  these  purposes,  I  shall  cheerfully  coucur,  aud  Avill 
strenuously  exert  myself/^ 

In  the  eonclusion  of  their  address,  the  Assembly  made 
this  reply : — "  Your  Excellency  may  depend  on  our  doing 
everything  in  our  power,  to  relieve  the  distresses  of  our 
fellow-subjects,  in  the  remote  parts  of  this  Province,  and 
thereby  prevent  future  insurrections ;  not  doubting  of  your 
Excellency's  cheerfiil  concurrence  in  every  constitutional 
measure  that  may  be  thought  necessary  to  answer  these  good 
purposes  :  though,  at  the  same  time,  the  House  cannot  but 
lament,  the  very  little  power  that  is  left,  by  ministerial  in- 
structions, in  the  Legislature  of  this  Province,  to  remedy  the 
capital  grievances  which  these  people  labour  under;  parti- 
cularly, the  want  of  Courts  of  Justice  amongst  them,  the 
want  of  an  equal  representation  in  Assembly,  and  the  exces- 
sive fees  of  office,  and  charges  of  the  law." 

This  portion  of  the  Assembly's  address,  while  respectful 
in  tone,  was  decided  in  sentiment,  and  gave  token  of  the 
last  days  of  Royalty  in  Carolina.  Here  was  to  be  seen  the 
germ  of  a  spirit  which  continued  to  grow,  until,  a  few  years 
later,  it  assumed  the  form  of  open  opposition  and  revolu- 
tionary conflict—the  Assembly  of  the  Province  having 
boldly  espoused  the  cause  of  his  Majesty's  injured  subjects. 

''  The  little  power  left  in  the  Legislature,  in  consequence 
of  ministerial  instructions,  to  remedy  the  capital  grievances 
of  the  People,"  was  felt  more  and  more,  until  these  instruc- 
tions ceased  to  be  regarded,  and  the  Governor  himself,  the 
last  vestige  of  the  power  of  the  throne,  was  forced  to  fly 
from  the  City,  to  a  British  Man-of-War  in  the  harbour  of 
Charles-town. 

The  people  were  not  only  determined  to  be  independent 
as  to  Courts  of  their  own.  There  was  a  general  disposition 
to  throw  ofl*  the  yoke,  and  cherish  the  spirit  of  a  timely 
self-reliance.  This  was  the  case  as  to  many  articles  of 
manufacture  which  had  been  supplied  to  the  Colonies  from 
the  Mother  Country.  It  will  be  remembered,  that  as  early 
as  December  22nd,  176S,  the  letter  from  a  gentleman  on 
Pedee,  to  his  correspondent  in  Charles- town,  related  to  this 
matter.      He  said,  ''  I  expect  to  see  our  own  manufactures 


158  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

mucli  promoted  in  tliis  part  of  the  Province/^  and  samples 
of  wliite  cotton  cloth^  which  had  been  produced  in  that 
region,  were  sent  to  Town  for  inspection. 

It  was  stated  in  the  Gazette  of  March  2nd,  1769,  that, 
"  Many  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  North,  and  Eastern  parts 
of  this  Province  have  this  winter  clothed  themselves  in  their 
own  manufactures ;  many  more  would  purchase  them  if 
they  could  be  got ;  and  a  great  reform  is  intended  in  the 
enormous  expense  attending  funerals,  for  mourning,  &c., 
from  the  patriotic  example  lately  set  by  Christopher 
Gadsden,  Esq.,  when  he  buried  one  of  the  best  of  wives, 
and  most  excellent  of  women.  In  short,  the  generality  of 
the  People  now  seem  deeply  impressed  with  an  idea  of  the 
necessity,  and  most  heartily  disposed,  to  use  every  means  to 
promote  industry,  economy,  and  American  Manufactures,  and 
to  keep  as  much  money  amongst  us  as  possible." 

The  next  allusion  to  the  subject  is  found  in  December  of 
the  following  year  (1770),  when  a  most  important  plan  was 
set  on  foot  for  promoting  the  objects  just  referred  to.  The 
Gazette  of  the  29th  of  Dec'""  contained  this  intelligence  : 
"  The  Committee  to  consider  the  ways  and  means  for  esta- 
blishing and  promoting  such  manufactures  as  this  Province 
is  capable  of  producing,  have,  already  had  several  meetings. 
It  consists  of  fifteen  gentlemen,  who  have  determined  to 
begin,  by  setting  forward  a  General  Subscription  to  raise  a 
Fund  of  Money,  towards  which  themselves  have  collectively 
subscribed  upwards  of  2200/.  They  have  chosen  Henry 
Laurens,  Esq.,  for  their  Chairman  and  Treasurer :  and 
Subscription  Papers  are  forthwith  to  be  printed,  which,  with 
a  Circular  Letter,  are  to  be  despatched  to  all  Parts  of  the 
Province.  This  is  one  of  the  measures  which  an  unkind 
mother  and  false  brethren  have  given  rise  to." 

A  non- importation  agreement  had  very  generally  been 
entered  into,  and  pledges  or  articles  signed,  and  great  dis- 
satisfaction was  felt  now  towards  the  Northern  Colonies,  in 
departing  from  their  non-importation  agreement — hence  the 
action  above. 

A  meeting  was  held  in  Charles-town  on  the  13th  inst. 
(Dec.)  and  a  sub-committee  appointed,  by  the  General  Com- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  159 

mittee  of  tlie  friends  of  liberty^  to  consider  of  every  means 
for  the  encouragement  of  domestic  Manufactures  and  non- 
importation of  tea  and  various  articles  of  luxury. 

Of  the  Circular  Letter,  to  be  despatched  to  the  different 
parts  of  the  Province,  no  trace  has  been  found.  But,  of 
the  Subscription  Papers,  which  were  also  to  be  printed  and 
sent  with  the  Letter,  the  following  relic  appears  in  a  memo- 
randum book*  of  the  day,  viz.  : — 

"  Subscribed  for  the  Papers  : 

£     s. 

Thomas  Evans 15      0 

*James  Hicks 10      0 

William  Coward  (paid  £3  5s.) 5      0 

James  Shields 10     0 

John  Adam 10      0 

*Daniel  Walsh 5      0 

*John  Hodges 5      0 

Philip  Singleton 100 

Claudius  Pegues,  jun""- 10     0 

Benj°-  Rogers 12      0 

William  Thomas,  paid 20    13 

Charles  Sparkes 100 

Fran^-  Gillespie 5      0 

John  David 5      0 

*Charles  Mason 150 

*Thomas  Ellerbe 120 

William  Ellerbe 7   10 

Isham  Hodges 5      0 

Joseph  Dabbs 5      0 

James  Gregg 5      0 

Moses  Murphy 10      0 

Duke  Glen 10      0 

John  Brown 5      0 

John  Hodge  (Cashway)   (paid  £i  17s.  6d.)   .  10      0 

Daniel  Sparks 7      0 


*  Tliis  old  book  was  found,  containing  also  other  valuable  matter,  among  the 
collection  of  papers  in  the  possession  of  Philip  Pledger,  Esq.,  in  Marlborough 
District,  already  referred  to. 


160  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


*Thomas  Powe 5  0 

George  King 5  0 

John  Hire 5  0 

Tristram  Thomas 5  0 

^Ben"-  James,  Cons"^- 10  0 

Nathaniel  Saunders  (paid  £9  15s.)     ...  15  0 

*John  Thomson 10  0 

^John  O^Neal,  paid 10  0 

Aaron  Daniel 100 

Auth"-  Pouncy 10  0 

Rob*-  Witherspoon 10  0 

Thos'-  North 5  0 

Stephen  Ford,  Jun'"- 20  0.'^* 

This  was,  doubtless,  but  one  of  the  lists  of  subscriptions 
in  the  Parish  of  St.  David. 

The  prompt  and  liberal  response  of  the  inhabitants  in 
this  matter  was  only  one  of  the  many  indications  of  that 
determined  spirit  by  which  they  were  now  actuated  in  the 
struggle  for  independence. 

Defensive,  not  less  than  offensive,  measures  were  thus  set 
on  foot  for  their  protection  and  support.  To  the  latter 
they  had  become  accustomed,  and  were  ready  for  any  fur- 
ther conflict  which  time  might  bring  about. 

We  have  seen  how  the  years  1767  and  1768  were  among 
the  most  eventful  in  preparing  the  minds  of  the  people  for 
Revolution.  In  bringing  this  result  to  pass,  the  regulation 
movement  and  the  conflict  to  which  it  led,  were  largely 
instrumental.  Though  an  extreme  measure,  it  must  be 
sanctioned  by  the  verdict  of  history,  inasmuch  as  those, 
who,  in  the  character  of  humble  and  loyal  subjects  of  the 
Crown,  began  to  petition  as  early  as  1752  for  the  redress  of 
their  grievances,  but  in  vain,  were  justified  in  the  use  of  the 
means  to  which  they  were  driven  by  necessity. 


*  For  some  time  after  the  discovery  of  this  interesting  record,  the  author 
was  greatly  at  a  loss  to  explain  it,  the  simple  heading,  "  Subscribed  for  the 
papers"  furnishing  the  only  clue  to  its  history.  Upon  the  subsequent  dis- 
covery, in  the  old  Gazette  of  the  day,  of  the  plan  of  the  "  Circular  Letter  and 
Subscription  Papers,"  «fcc.,  the  difficulty  was  at  once  removed. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  161 

It  was  not  until  every  constitutional  method  was  ex- 
hausted, that  they  were  induced  to  fall  back  upon  those 
rights  of  man  which  are  inalienable. 

The  descendants  of  the  Regulators  on  the  Pedee  may 
revert,  with  honest  pride,  to  this  unequal,  but  finally  success- 
ful struggle  of  their  fathers. 


162  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  name  of  St.  David — Some  account  of  it — Welch  names — Necessity  for  a 
parochial  organization — Provisions  of  the  Act  establishing  the  Parish  of 
St.  David — What  it  contemplated — The  first  records  of  the  parish — Pro- 
ceedings of  Commissioners — Names  of  voters  for  parish  officers — Election 
of  Representative  to  Assembly — Names  of  voters — Previous  proceedings — 
Second  election — Names  of  voters — Colonel  G.  G.  Powell — Account  of  him — 
Appointment  as  Judge — Proceedings  of  Commissioners  for  building  a  church 
— Church  officers — Efforts  to  procure  a  clergyman — Progress  of  Church 
building — History  of  it  afterward — Successive  elections  for  Representative  to 
Assembly — Church  officers  and  other  officers  from  year  to  year — Proceed- 
ings of  vestry — Notice  of  individuals — The  close  of  the  parish  history — 
Concluding  reflections. 

In  the  year  1768^  a  name  appears  for  the  first  time  among 
its  records^  which  was  ever  after  to  be  identified  with  the 
history  of  the  Pedee.  This  was  St.  David,'^  the  Tutelar 
Saint  of  the  Welchj  given  to  the  first  parochial  organiza- 
tion which  was  here  established.  The  "  Welch  Neck"  is 
the  only  other  name  remaining,  to  indicate  the  origin  of  the 
Colony  that  led  the  way  in  the  settlement  of  this  region. 
Unlike  the  English,  Erenchj  and  Spaniards,  who,  in  their 
first  discoveries  and  settlements  in  the  West,  failed  not  to 
leave  many  of  their  distinctive  national  appellations  behind 
them,  the  Welch  were  satisfied  to  give  to  one  locality  a 
name  that  would  link  it  perpetually  with  the  land  of  their 


*  St.  David  was  the  most  famous  of  all  the  Welch  names.  He  was  a  Bishop 
of  Wales  in  the  sixth  century,  celebrated  for  his  learning  and  piety,  and  a 
patron  of  those  schools  of  literature  which  flourished  there  at  an  early  period. 
He  is  supposed  to  have  been,  by  the  mother's  side,  of  regal  descent.  His  con- 
secration  took  place  at  Jerusalem,  it  being  a  distracted  time  at  home,  and  the 
Britons,  who  were  most  inclined  to  devotion,  preferring  to  go  thither.  His 
domestice  ducation  is  said  to  have  been  under  Paulinus,  a  disciple  of  St.  Ger- 
man, in  Whiteland,  Caermarthenshire.  Soon  after  his  return  from  Jerusalem, 
he  attended  a  famous  synod  of  bishops,  abbots,  and  others,  held  at  a  place 
called  "  Llandein-Brevi,"  the  church  of  St.  David  at  Brevi ;  and  here,  by  his 
authority  and  eloquence,  put  an  effectual  stop  to  Pclagianism,  and  before  the 
end  of  the  synod,  it  is  said,  was  chosen,  by  general  consent.  Archbishop  of 
Caerleon,  and  so  continued  in  the  exercise  of  his  episcopal  functions  to  the  close 
of  an  honoured  life.  His  day,  as  a  tutelar  saint  of  the  Welch,  is  1st  March. — 
Stillingfleet's  "Antiquities,"  vol.  ii.  pp.  515-523. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  163 

fathers.  They  left,  however,  a  better  memorial  in  those 
virtuous  principles  and  sturdy  traits  of  character  which 
were  transmitted  to  their  descendants. 

The  population  of  the  upper  parts  of  the  Parishes  of 
Prince  George  and  St.  jNIark's,  extending  on  both  sides  of 
the  river  to  the  line  of  North  Carolina,  had  now  reached  a 
point  demanding  a  distinct  organization  of  its  own.  The 
inhabitants  of  these  parts,  remote  from  the  parochial  centres 
below,  could  no  longer  endure  the  disadvantages  and  hard- 
ships which  their  present  condition  involved,  without  being 
seriously  affected.  Application  was  accordingly  made  to 
the  Assembly,  and  an  Act  passed,  April  1 2th,  1768,  "for 
establishing  a  Parish  in  Craven  County,  by  the  name  of 
St.  David,  and  for  appointing  Commissioners  for  the  High 
Roads  in  the  said  Parish.^^ 

The  Preamble  to  the  Act  was  in  these  words  :  "  Whereas, 
the  inhabitants  residing  on  Pedee  River,  in  the  Parishes  of 
St.  Mark's  and  Prince  George,  in  Craven  County,  have 
represented  many  inconveniences  which  they  are  under  for 
want  of  having  a  parish  laid  out  and  established  in  the  said 
County,  and  prayed  that  a  law  may  be  passed  for  that  pur- 
pose :"  it  was  therefore  enacted — 

"  I.  That  a  Parish  shall  be  laid  out  and  established  in 
Craven  County  aforesaid,  bounded  in  the  following  manner 
(that  is  to  say)  by  a  North-West  line  to  be  run  from  the 
northward-most  corner  of  Williamburg  Township  to  Lynche's 
Creek,  and  from  thence  by  that  Creek  to  the  provincial 
line;  and  that  the  line  dividing  St.  Mark's  from  Prince 
Frederick's  Parish,  be  carried  on  in  the  same  course  from 
the  Great  Pedee,  where  it  now  ends,  to  the  provincial  line 
aforesaid ;  by  which,  together  with  lines  aforesaid,  and 
Lynche's  Creek,  the  new  Parish  shall  be  bounded,  and  that 
the  said  Parish  shall  hereafter  be  called  and  known  by  the 
name  of  St.  David. 

"  II.  That  a  Church,  Chapel,  and  Parsonage  house  shall 
be  built  at  such  places,  within  the  bounds  of  the  said  Parish, 
as  the  major  part  of  the  Commissioners  hereafter  named 
shall  order  and  direct. 

"  III.  That  the  Rector  or  Minister  of  the  said  Parish, 
foi"  the   time  being,  shall  officiate   in    the  said  Church  and 

M  2 


164  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Chapel  alternately,  and  shall  be  elected  and  chosen  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  Rectors  or  Ministers  of  the  several 
other  parishes  in  the  Province  are  elected  and  chosen,  and 
shall  have  yearly  paid  to  him  and  his  successors  for  ever, 
the  same  salary  as  is  appointed  for  the  Rector  or  Minister 
of  any  other  Parish  in  this  Province,  (the  Parishes  of  St. 
Philip  and  St.  Michael  excepted,)  out  of  the  fund  appro- 
priated, or  to  be  appropriated  for  payment  of  the  salaries  of 
the  Clergy  of  this  Province  ;  and  the  public  Treasurer,  for  the 
time  being,  is  hereby  authorized  and  required  to  pay  the 
same,  under  the  like  penalties  and  forfeitures  as  for  not 
paying  the  salaries  due  to  the  other  Rectors  or  Ministers  of 
the  several  other  parishes  in  the  Province ;  and  the  said 
rector  or  minister  of  the  said  Parish  shall  have  and  enjoy 
all  and  every  such  privileges  and  advantages,  and  to  be 
under  such  rules,  laws,  and  restrictions  as  the  rectors  or 
ministers  of  the  other  parishes  in  this  Province  have  and 
enjoy,  or  are  subject  and  liable  unto. 

"  IV.  That  Claudius  Pegnes,  Philip  Pledger,  Alexander 
Mcintosh,  George  Hicks,  Thomas  Ellerbe,  Robert  Allison, 
Thomas  Lide,  Charles  Bedingfield,  James  James,  Robert 
Weaver,  Thomas  Crawford,  James  Thompson,  Thomas  Port, 
and  Benjamin  Rogers,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  appointed. 
Commissioners,  or  supervisors,  for  the  building  of  the  said 
Church  and  Chapel,  and  parsonage-house  in  the  parish  of 
St.  David;  and  they,  or  a  majority  of  them,  are  fully 
authorized  and  empowered  to  purchase  a  glebe  for  the  said 
parish,  and  to  take  subscriptions,  and  to  receive  and  gather, 
collect  and  sue  for  all  such  sum  or  sums  of  money,  as  any 
pious  or  well-disposed  person  or  persons  shall  give  and  con- 
tribute for  the  purposes  aforesaid ;  and,  in  case  of  the 
death,  absence,  or  refusing  to  act  of  any  of  the  said  Com- 
missioners, the  Church  wardens  and  Vestry  of  the  said 
Parish  of  St.  David,  for  the  time  being,  shall  and  may 
nominate  atid  appoint  another  person  or  persons  to  be  Com- 
missioner or  Commissioners,  in  the  place  of  such  so  dead, 
absent,  or  refusing  to  act,  as  to  the  said  Church  wardens 
and  Vestry  shall  seem  meet,  which  Commissioner  or  Com- 
missioners, so  to  be  nominated  and  appointed,  shall  have 
the  same  powers  and  authorities  for   putting  this  Act  into 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEllAWS.  165 

execution,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  tlie  Commissioners 
hei'ein  named. 

"  V.  Tliat  from  and  immediately  after  the  passing  of 
this  Act,  the  Commissioners  herein  appointed,  &c.,  do  call 
the  inhabitants,  &e.,  together,  to  choose  parish  officers,  and 
fix  on  the  most  proper  places  for  building  the  Church  and 
Chapel. 

"  VI.  That  from  and  after  the  dissolution  of  the  present 
General  Assembly,  the  inhabitants  of  the  parish  of  St. 
Mark's  (which  heretofore  chose  two  members  of  Assembly), 
and  the  inhabitants  of  the  Parish  of  St.  Da^dd,  qualified  by 
law  for  that  purpose,  shall  choose  and  elect  one  member 
each,  and  no  more,  to  represent  the  said  parishes  respec- 
tively in  General  Assembly ;  any  law,  usage,  or  custom,  to 
the  contrary  in  any  wise  notwithstanding;  and  that  writs 
for  electing  members  to  serve  in  General  Assembly  for  the 
said  parishes,  shall  be  issued  at  the  same  time,  and  in  the 
same  manner  as  for  the  several  other  parishes  in  this  Pro- 
vince, according  to  the  directions  of  the  Act  of  the  General 
Assembly  in  that  case  made  and  provided. 

"  VII.  That  Claudius  Pegnes,  Philip  Pledger,  Alexander 
M'Intosh,  George  Hicks,  Thomas  Ellerbe,  Robert  Allison, 
Thomas  Lide,  Charles  Bedingfield,  James  James,  Robert 
Weaver,  Thomas  Crawford,  James  Thompson,  Thomas  Port, 
and  Benjamin  Rogers,  shall  be,  and  they  are  hereby  ap- 
pointed Commissioners  for  the  high  roads  in  the  said  parish 
of  St.  David  ;  and  the  said  Commissioners,  or  a  majority  of 
them,  shall  have  the  same  power  and  authorities  for  laying 
out,  and  making  and  keeping  in  repair,  the  roads  in  the  said 
parish,  and  shall  be  subject  and  liable  to  the  like  penalties 
and  forfeitures  as  the  Commissioners  for  the  high  roads  in 
the  other  parts  of  this  Province  have,  or  are  subject  and 
liable  unto  by  the  laws  of  this  Province  ;  and  in  case  any  of 
the  Commissioners  appointed  by  this  Act,  shall  happen  to 
die,  depart  the  Province,  or  refuse  to  act,  it  shall  and  may 
be  lawful  for  the  remainder  of  the  Commissioners,  or  a 
major  part  of  them,  to  nominate  or  appoint  another  Com- 
missioner or  Commissioners,  in  the  room  of  him  or  tliem, 
so  dying,  departing  the  Province,  or  refusing  to  act,  and  the 
Commissioner  or  Commissioners,  so  nominated  and  appointed, 


166  HISTORY   OF   THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

shall  have  the  same  poAver  and  authorities^  and  be  subject  to 
the  same  penalties  and  forfeitures  as  the  Commissioners  ap- 
pointed by  this  Act/'"^ 

The  organization  here  contemplated^  was  ecclesiastical, 
according  to  the  Act  of  1706,  commonly  called  the  Church 
Act,  for  the  establishment  of  religious  worship,  according  to 
the  Church  of  England,  and  for  erecting  Churches,  support- 
ing ministers,  &c.  It  also  embraced,  in  part,  the  manage- 
ment of  the  civil  aflPairs  of  the  Parish,  as  it  was  made  the 
duty  of  the  Vestry,  by  Act  of  1712,t  to  nominate  yearly 
Overseers  of  the  poor  of  the  Parish,  as  well  as  to  exercise 
other  functions  strictly  civil.  The  Overseers  of  the  poor, 
with  the  Churchwardens,  were  to  have  the  ordering  and 
relieving  of  the  poor  committed  to  them,  out  of  such  monies 
as  might  be  given  for  that  purpose,  or  raised  by  assessments 
laid  on  the  inhabitants  of  the  Parish.  The  Vestry  was  also 
to  bind  out  orphan  children  as  apprentices ;  and  by  Act  of 
1721,  J  it  was  made  the  duty  of  Churchwardens  to  provide 
for  the  election  of  Members  of  Assembly. 

This  was  the  only  parochial  organization  known  at  the 
time,  and  was  therefore  so  ordered  as  to  provide  for  all  the 
wants  and  exigencies  of  the  Parish. 

The  first  record  following  the  passage  of  the  Act,  esta- 
blishing the  parish  of  St.  David,  opens  the  journal§  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  Vestry,  and  is  in  these  words  :  "  The 
General  Assembly  of  the  Province  of  South  Carolina  having 
passed   an  Act,   bearing  date  day  of  ,  for 

making  a  new  Parish  out  of  part  of  the  parishes  of  St.  Mark, 
Prince  Frederick,  and  Prince  George;  ||  the  following  gentle- 


*  "  Statutes  at  Large,"  vol.  iv.  p.  300. 
t  "  Public  Laws,"  p.  104.  %  "  Public  Laws,"  p.  113. 

§  The  old  Parish  Book,  of  later  years  among  the  records  in  possession  of  the 
vestry,  was  found  by  the  late  Rev.  Andrew  Fowler  at  the  residence  of  Mrs. 
Sarah  Pegnes,  of  Chesterfield  District,  whose  husband  was  a  son  of  one  of  the 
first  vestrymen. 

Mr.  Fowler  made  a  visit  to  St.  David's  as  a  missionary,  in  December,  1819, 
and  was  afterwards  appointed  for  a  longer  period.  On  one  occasion,  while 
searching  among  the  old  books  and  papers  at  Mrs.  Pegnes's  this  interesting  and 
valuable  record  was  found.  Mr.  Fowler  was  a  faithful  and  devoted  minister  of 
Christ,  planting  the  Church  and  building  it  up  in  not  a  few  places  where  it  had 
gone  to  decay.     He  died  at  a  very  advanced  age,  a  few  years  since. 

II  It  will  be  observed,  that  the  Act  is  here  said  to  have  been  passed  for 
making  a  new  parish  out  of  part  of  the  parishes  of  St.  Mark,  Prince  Frederick, 


HISTORY   OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  167 

men  were,  by  the  said  Act,  appointed  as  Commissioners  for 
the  said  Parish,  which,  by  tlie  Act^  is  appointed  to  go  by  the 
Name  of  the  Parish  of  St.  David '' — and  the  list  of  names 
is  then  given. 

On  Monday,  August  1st,  the  Commissioners  met,  accord- 
ing to  public  notice,  at  the  house  of  Charles  Bcdingfield  ;* 
when  Alexander  M'Intosh,  James  James,  and  Robert  Alli- 
son, declined  acting  in  the  affairs  of  the  Church. f  The 
following  parish  officers  were  elected,  viz. :  Claudius  Pegnes, 
Philip  Pledger,  Willi  am  Godfrey,  Charles  Bediugfield,  Thomas 
Lide,  Thomas  Ellerbe,  and  Thomas  Bingham,  Vestrymen ; 
Alexander  Gordon  and  Benjamin  Rogers,  ChurchMardens  ; 
Durham  Hitts  was  appointed  Clerk.  The  oath  of  office  was 
administered  the  next  day. 

The  names  of  those  who  voted  for  Vestrymen  and  Wardens 
were  as  follows,  viz.  :  "  William  Hardwick,  Duke  Glen,  John 
INIackintosh,  John  Jenkins,  Edward  Ellerbe,  John  Hus- 
bands, Thomas  Boatwright,  Sen.,  John  Pledger,  Robert 
Anderson,  Robert  Clary,  Benjamin  Jackson,  James  Knight, 
Samuel  Wise,  James  Thorsby,  Thomas  Williams,  Thomas 
Wade,  and  Leonard  Dozier — in  all  18.'^ 

The  next  matter  which  engaged  attention  was  the  elec- 
tion of  a  Member  to  the  Commons  House  of  Assembly,  as  to 
which  the  following  entries  appear  upon  the  Journal  of  the 
Vestry : — 

"  Monday,  September  26th,  1768. 

"The  vrrits  of  election  of  a  Member  of  Assembly  for 
the  Parish  of  St.  David  ha\'ing  been  sent  up  from  Charles- 
town,  twenty-six  advertisements  were  sent  to  the  diffi^rent 
parts  of  the  Parish,  requiring  the  appearance  of  the  inha- 
bitants  of  the  said  Parish  at    Mr.  John   Mackintoshes, J  on 


and  Prince  George.  From  this  it  would  appear  that,  according  to  the  under- 
standuig  of  the  inhabitants  at  the  time,  "  Prince  Frederick"  did  extend  over, 
forming  a  part  of  the  territory  east  of  the  Pedee.  The  confusion  on  this  subject 
in  the  Acts  of  Assembly  has  been  mentioned. 

*  This  was  at  what  is  now  known  as  Irby's  Mills,  in  Marlborough  District,  on 
the  public  road  from  Cheraw  to  Bennettsville,  and  three  miles  from  the  former  place. 

t  These  gentlemen  lived  some  distance  below  on  the  river,  and  two  of  them 
were  of  other  religious  connexions. 

X  This  was  just  above  Cock  Run,  about  two  miles  below  Long  Bluflf,  on  the 
public  road  leading  thence  to  George-town,  called  long  afterward  the  "  Old 
River  Road,"  where  the  traces  of  the  first  settlement  are  still  to  be  3een. 


168  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHEEAWS. 

Tuesday  ;  and  at  Mr.  Charles  Bedingfield^Sj  on  Wednesday^ 
the  fourth  and  fifth  days  of  October^  ensuing ;  Being  the 
Days  appointed  for  the  Election  of  a  Member  to  represent 
the  Parish  in  the  Commons  House  of  Assembly. 

"  Likewise^  Circular  Letters  were  writ  to  the  Captains, 
James  Knight,  James  Thomas,  Thomas  Conner,  and  Ben- 
jamin Jackson  ;  and  to  Messrs.  John  Kimbrough,  William 
Watkins,  Robert  Lide,  and  Gideon  Gibson,  with  two  or  three 
of  the  Advertisements  of  the  Election  enclosed  in  each,  to 
put  up  at  the  most  Public  Places  in  their  respective  Districts, 
and  a  desire  to  bring  their  Comj)anies,  under  their  proper 
leaders,  to  the  Places  of  Election,  to  prevent  confusion.^^"^ 
The  Advertisement  was  as  follows : 

"  The  Inhabitants  of  the  Parish  of  St.  David  are  required 
to  meet  on  Tuesday,  the  Fourth  Day  of  October,  ensuing, 
at  the  House  of  Mr.  John  Mackintosh,  and  on  Wednesday, 
the  fifth  day  of  the  same  month,  at  the  House  of  Mr.  Charles 
Bedingfield,  in  order  to  Elect  a  Member  of  Assembly  for 
the  said  Parish.  The  Hours  of  Election  to  be  from  ten  in 
the  forenoon  to  four  in  the  afternoon. 

"  By  Order  of  the  Church  wardens, 

"  Durham  Hitts,  C.P. 

"  September  26th,  1768." 

The  Circular  Letter  was  as  follows : 

"  Sir, — You  have  Enclosed  Advertisements,  for  Electing 
a  Member  of  Assembly  for  this  Parish.  Please  to  circulate 
them  to  the  most  convenient  Places.  You  are  desired  by 
the  Captains,  Pledger,  Hicks,  Lide,  &c.,  for  the  Honor  of 
the  Parish,  to  bring  as  many  Voters  as  you  possibly  can  to 
the  Place  of  Election,  where  they  will  meet  you  with  each 
of  their  Companies. 

"  They  also  desire  that  you  will  keep  and  bring  up  the 
People  under  their  proper  Leaders,  in  order  to  prevent  con- 


*  This  precaiation,  it  will  be  remembered,  resulted  from  the  apprehension 
on  the  part  of  the  Government  that  disturbances  might  ensue  in  consequence 
of  the  previous  action  of  the  Eegulators,  and  tJte  fear,  in  particular,  that 
numbers  of  them  might  come  down  from  North  Carolina  to  overawe  the  law- 
abiding  citizens,  as  these  last  were  esteemed,  and  thus  the  general  state  of 
alarm  and  confusion  be  increased. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CUERAWS.  1G9 

fusion.      They   hope  that    you   will,  ou  this  occasion,   exert 
yourself  to  the  utmost  of  your  power. 
"  I  am,  Sir, 

"  Your  humble  Servant, 

"  Durham  Hitts,  C.P. 

"September  2Gtli,  1768." 

The  foregoing  Circular  Letters  were  directed  for  forward- 
ing to  Mr.  John  Kimbrough,  as  follows  : 

"  Sir, — As  the  time  is  so  short  between  our  receiving  the 
writs  of  Election,  and  the  time  for  Electing  of  a  Member 
for  this  Parish  (as  you  will  see  in  the  Letter  directed  to 
you),  you  will  do  a  good  piece  of  service  to  the  Public,  in 
causing  the  Letters  enclosed,  directed  to  the  Captains, 
Thomson  and  Knight,  and  to  JSIr.  Watkins  and  Mr.  Gibson, 
to  be  conveyed  to  them  as  speedily  as  possible. 
"  I  am,  Sir, 

"  Your  humble  Servant, 

''Durham  Hitts,  C.P.'^ 

"September  26th,  1768." 

"Tuesday,  October  the  Fourth,  1768.  The  PoU  for  the 
Election  of  a  Member  of  Assembly  for  the  Parish  of  St. 
David,  in  Craven  County,  South  Carolina,  was  opened  at 
the  House  of  Mr.  Mackintosh,  and  the  following  Persons 
voted,  viz. : 

"  Bartholomew  Ball  Richard  Pouder 

Simon  Holmes  Francis  M'Call,  Jun. 

John  Renynolds  Thomas  Harry 

"William  Reeves  John  jNIackintosh 

John  Holley  Charles  M'Call 

William  Lucas  Roderick  M'lver 

John  Jamieson  John  Evans 

Robert  Clary  Daniel  Devonald 

Samuel  Sparks  Thomas  James 

Lewis  Rowan  Alexander  Mackintosh 

Charles  Strother  Philip  Howell 

John  Davis  Edward  Lowther 

John  Courtney  Francis  M'Call 

Malachi  Newberry  Gideon  Parish 

Thomas  Evans  William  Edwards 


170 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


John  M'Call 
Jolin  Cheeseborough 
Richard  Blizard 
Nathaniel  Douglass 
Thomas  Davidson 
John  Prothero 
Evans  Prothero 
James  Knight 
James  Rogers 
Joseph  Dabbs 
Peter  Kolb 
John  Kimbrough 
John  Cooper 
David  Harry 
William  Dewitt 
William  Allen 
Andrew  Hunter 
John  M'Call 
Christopher  Teal 
George  King 
Josiah  Evans 
Joseph  Luke 
Samuel  Wilds 
John  Rowell 
Dennis  Galphin 
Benjamin  Pruiel 
Thomas  Edwards 
John  Griffith 
John  Knight 
Philip  Pledger 
James  James 
Daniel  Man 
Magnus  Corgill 
William  James 
John  Dyer 
John  Marsha 
Thomas  Levy 
Robert  Blair 
Lewis  Blalock 


Daniel  Luke 
David  Harry 
Joshua  Douglass 
Jacob  Lamplugh 
Howel  James 
Joseph  Barker 
Isam  Ellis 
William  Tyrrell 
Abel  Edwards 
James  Bruce 
William  Pouncey 
John  Jackson 
Joshua  Edwards 
John  Brown 
Enoch  Luke 
Jenkin  David 
Richard  Allen 
Philip  Robland 
Abel  Wilds 
Edward  Jones 
Benjamin  Wright 
Gilbert  Moody 
Thomas  Lane 
William  Megee 
Samuel  Evans 
Martin   Kolb 
Robert  Lide 
Joseph  Alison 
John  Alran 
John  Brown 
John  Flanagan 
Job  Edwards 
Richard  Mc  La  More 
Anthony  Pouncey 
Duke  Glen 
Joshua  Hickman 
David  Evans 
Walter  Downes 
Aaron  Daniel 


HISTORY    OF   THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 


171 


John  Bruce  IMartin  Dewitt 

James  Dozier  Jolni  Darby. 

"  Number  of  Voters  this  Day^  113." 

''  Wednesday,  October  5th,  17G8.  The  Poll  for  Electing 
of  a  INIcmbcr  of  Assembly  for  the  Parish  of  St.  David,  in 
Craven  County,  South  Carolina,  was  opened  at  the  House 
of  Mr.  Charles  Bcdiugfield,  and  the  following  Persons  voted, 
viz.  : — 


Thomas  Boatright 
Lewis  Gardiner 
William  Carter 
Benjamin  James 
John  Purvis 
Charles  Bedingfield 
Enoch  James 
Jesse  Counsell 
William  Gardiner 
John  Pledger 
John  Williams 
John  Jenkins 
Abraham  Colt 
William  Elierbe 
Thomas  Elierbe 
Enoch  Thomson 
Edward  Elierbe 
Charles  Irby 
Alexander  Gordon 
Peter  Heathy 
John  Frazier 
Thomas  Sommerlin 
John  Williams 
William  Hardwicke 
Thomas  Lide 
John  Husbands 


Samuel  Hatfield 
John  Jones 
William  Johnson 
Thomas  Williams 
William  Hicks 
John  Beverley 
George  Hicks 
John  Lyons 
John  Sutton 
Edward  Bryan 
Benjamin  Rogers 
Thomas  Bingham 
William  James 
Thomas  Conner 
Kedar  Keaton 
William  Godfrey 
George  Sweeting 
John  Moffatt 
John  Westfield 
Jonathan  Wise 
John  Shumake 
John  Hicks 
Thomas  Rogers 
Samuel  Williams 
John  Pow 
William  Hernsworth 


Jonathan  Willii'  ^ 
\al 
"  Number  .if  Voters  this  Day,  53.^ 


Claudius   Pegnes,    Esqr.,    was  unanimously    elected  a 


172  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

Member  of  Assembly  for  the  Parish  of  St.  David's,  all  the 
Votes  for  both  Days  being  for  him. 

"  The  Votes  for  the  first  Day  were      .  .113 

„  the  second  Day  .  .        53 

The  full  number  of  Votes  were         .  .      166  " 

To  have  been  elected  their  first  representative  by  a 
unanimous  vote,  was  a  singular  mark  of  the  esteem  and 
confidence  entertained  for  Mr.  Pegnes  by  his  fellow-citizens, 
and  more  particularly  so  as  he  had  not  been  very  long  a 
resident  among  them.  He  came  to  Pedee  about  eight  years 
before,  and  was  now  in  his  forty-ninth  year — an  active, 
prudent,  and  useful  man.  Retiring  in  his  disposition  and 
habits,  he  withdrew,  after  serving  one  term  in  Assembly,  to  the 
more  congenial  pursuits  of  private  life — continuing,  however, 
as  he  had  ever  been,  faithful  and  untiring  in  his  devotion  to 
the  public  good  and  the  rights  of  the  people. 

With  the  account  of  this  election  closes  the  Parish  record 
for  1768.  The  proportionate  numbers,  voting  respectively 
at  the  two  polls,  indicate  a  large  preponderance  of  popu- 
lation in  the  lower  parts  of  the  Parish.  These  embraced 
the  two  principal  settlements  of  the  Welch,  near  Long 
Blufi*,  and  the  Sandy  Bluff  neighbourhood  below,  which 
continued  for  many  years  after,  to  maintain  the  ascendancy. 
The  record  of  the  year  1769  opens  with  the  order  for  the 
election  of  a  new  Member  of  Assembly,  "  the  last  Assem- 
bly," it  was  said,  "  having  been  dissolved  by  his  Excellency, 
the  Governor  of  South  Carolina,  almost  as  soon  as  called." 
New  writs  of  election  were  sent  up  to  the  churchwardens, 
February  25th,  and  the  election  ordered  for  the  7th  and  8th 
of  March,  at  the  same  places  as  in  the  former  year.  At  the 
lower  poll,  98  votes  were  cast,  and  among  them  were  the 
following  names  which  did  not  appear  at  the  former  elec- 
tion, viz.  : — 

Daniel  Saunders  Jordan  Gibson,  jun. 

—  Saunders  T^xi/i  J'uben  Gibson 

John  Rothmahler  ^  lathaniel  Hunt 

Nicholas  Bedgegood  Daniel  Sparks 

Daniel  Monahan  Thomas  Avery 

John  Crawford  Charles  Sparks 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIEKAWS. 


173 


James  Mikell  Walter  Owens 

Solomon  Staples  Harrison  Lucas 

Robert  ISIoody  Charles  Lisenby 

;Moses  Bass  John  Hitchcock 

Joshua  Liicas  John  Crews 

ISIalachi  jNIurphy  Blundell  Curtis 

Arthur  Hart  John  Mikell 

William  McTierre  William  Floyd 

Stephen  Sebastian  George  Booth 

Edward  Owens  Jacob  Baxter. 
Samuel  Hasclton 
At  the  upper  poll  59  votes  were  cast,  and  among  them, 
certain  names  for  the  first,  viz. : — 


Rebecca  Lide 
Catharine  Little 
Francis  Benton 
Simon  Lundy 
Cornelius  Acmens 
Robert  Westfield 
John  Perkins 
Elizabeth  Counsell 
Michael  Griffith 
Samuel  Hards 
W"^  Gardiner,  jun. 
Silas  Harandine 
Francis  Gillespie 
James  Salmons 
James  Lundy 
Jacob  Johnson 
Richai'd  George 


Daniel  Lundy 
Benjamin  Ladd 
William  Lankford 
Sarah  Booth 
Abel  Wilds 
William  Crowley 
Thomas  Wade 
William  Prestwood 
Soloman  Holmes 
Frederick  Kimbell 
Joel  Yarborough 
William  Jackson 
Thomas  Tomkins 
David  Da\ddson 
Joseph  Parsons 
Thomas  Williams  on 
William  Hayes.^' 


At  this  election,  Col.  George  Gabriel  Powell  received  154 
of  the  157  votes  cast,  and  was  consequently  returned  as  the 
new  member  for  St.  David^s.  It  is  the  first  time  that  the 
name  of  Col.  Powell  appears  in  connexion  with  the  Parish  of 
St.  David,  though  shortly  afterwards  to  become  so  promi- 
nent in  all  the  leading  events  of  its  history.  He  had  been 
for  some  time  in  command  of  the  Craven  County  Regiment. 

On  the  1 0th  of  August,  of  this  year,  he  was  appointed  one 
of  his  Majesty's  Judges  for  the  Courts  of  General  Sessions 
and  Common  Pleas,  and  took  his  scat  on  the  Bench  the  16th 


174  HISTOKY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

October  following,  retaining  it  until  1772,  when  lie  was 
superseded. 

The  change  was  then  doubtless  made  in  consequence  of 
his  manly  independence  and  unflinching  devotion  to  the 
rights  of  the  Colonists.  He  did  not  sympathize  sufficiently 
with  the  Crown,  though  a  loyal  subject,  as  his  course  with 
reference  to  the  difficulty  at  Mars  Bluff,  of  the  previous 
year,  very  clearly  indicated,  as  it  did  also  a  want  of  co-ope- 
ration on  his  part  with  the  Regulators  and  a  misunderstand- 
ing of  their  movement. 

His  first  charge  from  the  Bench  was  spoken  of  in  the 
public  Prints  of  the  day,  as  having  given  universal  satis- 
faction. 

On  Easter  Monday,  March  27th,  at  a  meeting  of  the  free- 
holders of  the  Parish,  at  the  house  of  Charles  Bedingfield, 
the  church  officers  of  the  previous  year  were  re-elected.  It 
was  not  until  the  23rd  of  September  following  (1769)  that  the 
Commissioners  appointed  under  the  Act  of  Incorporation, 
for  that  purpose,  held  a  meeting  with  reference  to  the  erec- 
tion of  a  Church  Building.  In  consequence,  however,  of 
some  informality  in  the  notice  calling  them  together,  there 
■was  not  a  full  attendance,  d^d  nothing  was  done.  It  was 
agreed  by  those  present,  viz.,  Claudius  Pegnes,  Robert  Alli- 
son, Benjamin  Rogers,  Philip  Pledger,  Thomas  Lide,  Thomas 
Ellerbe,  and  Charles  Bedingfield,  that  the  Commissioners 
should  meet  again  on  the  25th  of  October  ensuing;  but, 
owing  probably  to  the  engrossing  events  of  the  time,  or  dif- 
ferences of  opinion  as  to  the  location  of  the  Church,  no 
meeting  was  held,  or  at  least  no  further  entry  appears  on 
the  records  of  the  Parish,  until  Feb.  1st,  1770. 

On  that  day,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry  and  Wardens,  Ely 
Kershaw  was  appointed  a  Commissioner  in  the  place  of  Robt. 
Allison,  deceased.  And  on  the  22nd  of  the  same  month, 
an  agreement  was  executed  in  due  form,  between  Thomas 
Bingham,  of  the  one  part,  and  Ely  Kershaw,  Philip  Pledger, 
George  Hicks,  Thomas  Lide,  Benjamin  Rogers,  Charles 
Bedingfield,  Thomas  Ellerbe,  and  Claudius  Pegnes,  Commis- 
sioners, of  the  other  part,  for  the  building  of  the  Parish  Church. 
It  was  to  be  erected  on  the  south-west  side  of  Pedee  River 
(at  Cheraw  Hill),  upon  land  given  for  that  purpose  by  Ely 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  175 

Kershaw,  aud  completed  ou  or  before  the  first  day  of  March, 
1772.  In  consideratiou  whereof,  the  said  Commissioners 
agreed  to  pay  the  sum  of  Two  thousand  six  hundred  pounds 
currency,  one  half  when  the  building  should  be  raised,  en- 
closed, aud  covered  ;  and  the  other  half  upon  its  completion. 

It  was  also  provided,  by  additional  agreement,  that  alter- 
ations might  be  made  in  the  stipulated  plan,  if  agreeable  to 
both  parties. 

It  does  not  appear  that  a  Glebe  was  ever  set  apart,  or  any 
steps  taken  towards  the  erection  of  a  Parsonage.  This  was 
doubtless  owing  to  the  failure  to  procure  a  settled  clergyman. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  of  this  year  (1770),  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Freeholders  of  the  Parish,  the  following  gentlemen 
were  elected  Church  oflEicers,  viz. : — John  Kimbrough,  Ely 
Kershaw,  Jesse  Counsell,  Samuel  Wise,  Henry  William  Har- 
rington, John  Pledger,  and  William  Ellerbe,  Vestrymen  : 
William  Godfrey  and  William  Pegnes,  Wardens. 

The  important  subject  of  procuring  a  Parish  Clergyman 
had  already  engaged  attention. 

During  a  part  of  this  year,  the  Rev.  James  Foidis"^  offi- 
ciated, but  remained  a  short  time  only  in  the  Parish.  "  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Hogart,  of  England,  was  next  in^dted  to  this  Cure  ; 
but  not  accepting  it,  application  was  made,  in  1772,  to  the 
Rev.  INIr.  Robinson  to  officiate,  and  if  approved  of,  the  Vestry 
would  recommend  him  for  Holy  Orders."  It  is  probable 
that  this  gentleman  was  a  minister  of  some  other  communion. 
The  Journals  are  silent  as  to  the  result.f 

The  church  building  was  not  completed  until  some  time 
subsequent  to  the  spring  of  1774,  as  appears  from  the  fact 
that  its  unfinished  state  was  made  the  subject  of  present- 
ment by  the  grand  jury  of  Cheraw  District,  as  will  be  seen 
hereafter. 

It  was  opened,  however,  for  public  worship  as  early  as 
December  1772, J  aud  continued  to  be  used  in  common  by 


*  Mr.  Foulis  had  charge  of  St.  Helena  parish,  Beaufort,  during  the  latter 
part  of  1778.  It  is  not  known  how  long  he  remained,  or  what  became  of  him 
afterwards. 

t  Dalcho's  "  Church  of  So.  Ca."  p.  327. 

X  The  Rev.  Evan  Pugh  speaks  iu  his  private  journal  of  having  officiated  there 
in  the  parish  church. 


176  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

the  denominations  around,  as  religious  ministrations  could 
be  had  at  that  early  period. 

It  was  almost  a  half  century  afterward  before  it  was 
restored  to  its  original  use  and  design  as  an  Episcopal 
Church.  During  its  common  occupancy  the  burden  of  its 
repairs  was  borne  by  the  inhabitants  generally  ;  and  as  a 
consequence,  when  an  exclusive  claim  was  set  up  in  the  year 
1819  to  its  possession,  no  little  feeling  was  aroused,  and 
there  was  for  a  time  a  determination  to  resist  it.  The 
original  Act  for  the  Organization  of  the  Parish  and  the 
proceedings  under  it,  were  either  unknown  or  lost  sight  of, 
and  having  been  so  long  occuj)ied  and  repaired  in  common, 
it  is  not  surprising  that  a  feeling  of  strong  opposition  was 
excited.  The  discovery,  however,  of  the  old  Parish  records 
and  subsequent  investigation,  cleared  the  whole  matter  up, 
and  the  claim  was  fully  established.  It  was  described 
many  years  after  as  a  neat  church,  "  a  frame  building,  on  a 
brick  foundation,  53  feet  long,  30  wide,  and  16  high  in  the 
clear,  with  a  cove  ceiling,  and  arched  windows.  The  chan- 
cel 10  feet  by  6.''  Subsequently  to  the  year  1819  the 
interior  arrangements  were  materially  altered,  the  chancel 
being  removed  from  the  side,  as  it  was  at  first,  to  the  east 
end,  and  other  changes  made.  A  porch  was  also  added, 
with  a  beautifully  proportioned  steeple. 

For  a  short  time,  during  the  summer  of  1781,  it  was 
occupied  by  British  soldiers,  and  not  a  few  of  them,  it  is 
said,  who  fell  victims  to  the  climate,  lie  buried  in  one  com- 
mon grave  under  the  shadow  of  its  portals. 

Unharmed  by  the  ravages  of  time,  the  venerable  building 
still  remains,  one  of  the  few  material  relics  left  us  of  that 
era.  It  was  erected  by  the  sturdy  men  of  that  day  with 
the  care  befitting  such  a  work,  and  upon  a  sure  foundation. 
There  has  been  wonderful  progress  since  in  every  depart- 
ment of  human  labour — but  a  progress  rather  in  matters  of 
outward  adornment  than  in  those  durable  elements  and 
that  thorough  finish  which  are  calculated  for  lasting  use. 

The  affairs  of  the  Parish  continued  to  be  administered 
with  regularity,  though  becoming  more  local  and  circum- 
scribed than  was  anticipated  at  the  time  of  its  organization. 
After  the  appointment  of  Col.  Powell  as  one  of  the  Assis- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  177 

tant  Judges,  there  appears  to  have  been  uo  further  cleetiou 
for  ]\Ienibers  of  Assembly  until  March,  1772,  when  Col. 
Charles  Augustus  Steward  "vvas  returned.  A  neW  election 
having  been  ordered  in  September  following,  for  the 
Assembly,  which  was  to  meet  in  Beaufort,  8th  Oct.,  Col. 
Stewart  was  again  successful,  after  an  exciting  contest. 
There  was  now  a  deepening  conviction  in  the  minds  of  the 
people,  that  their  representatives  would  shortly  be  called  to 
contend  in  a  decisive  struggle  for  every  constitutional  right. 
The  powers  of  Royalty  and  of  popular  sovereignty  were 
being  rapidly  arrayed.  There  was  a  premonitory  feeling,  in 
short,  though  with  no  clear  conception  as  to  the  course 
events  would  take,  that  momentous  changes  were  approach- 
ing. 

Col.  Stewart  retained  his  seat  but  for  one  session.  In 
December  Col.  Powell  was  again  returned.  He  was  re- 
elected the  following  February.  Up  to  this  time,  and  for  a 
year  later,  the  Commons  House  of  Assembly  consisted  of 
48  members.  It  was  summoned  to  meet,  February  23rd, 
1773,  and  dissolved  for  the  last  time  by  Royal  authority 
1st  Sept.  1775.  During  the  intervening  period  Col.  Powell 
continued  to  represent  the  Parish  of  St.  David,  and  was  the 
able  and  faithful  guardian  of  its  rights.  He  is  supposed  to 
have  practised  at  the  Bar  of  Cheraw  District ;  but,  though 
owning  property  in  it,  never  had  his  residence  within  its 
limits.  With  his  name  closed  the  list  of  Representatives 
of  St.  David  under  the  old  regime.* 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  of  the  Parish,  April,  1771, 
the  following  officers  were  elected,  viz. :  Jesse  Counsell, 
Ely  Kershaw,  Charles  Bedingfield,  Samuel  Wise,  Thomas 
"Wade,  William  Godfrey,  and  John  Westfield,  Vestrymen  : 
Thomas  Lide  and  Thomas  EUerbe,  Wardens  :  George  Hicks, 
Daniel  Lundy,  and  John  ]\Iitchell,  Overseers  of  the  pooi\ 
The  list  of  paupers  was  increasing,  and  their  support  formed 
the  chief  burden  of  the  Parish.  At  a  meeting  of  the  war- 
dens and  vestry,  Feby.  18th,  1772,  it  was  agreed  that  the 
inhabitants  should  be  taxed  2s.  6d.  for  every  100  acres  of 
laud,  and   the    same    amount    for    all    negro    slaves,    free- 


Drayton's  "Memoirs,"  vol.  i.  p.  1G2. 


178  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

negroes,  Mulattoes^  and  Mestizoes,  to  defray  the  expense  of 
maintaining  the  poor  of  the  Parish.  William  Godfrey  and 
Charles  Bedingfield  were  appointed  to  collect  the  same. 
The  surplus,  if  any,  was  to  be  paid  into  the  hands  of  the 
churchwardens.  The  following  Church  Officers  were 
elected,  April  20th,  1772,  viz.  :  James  Kelly,  Daniel  Lundy, 
Jacob  Johnson,  John  Kimbrough,  William  T\Tiite,  William 
Dewitt,  and  John  Jackson,  Vestrymen  :  Thomas  Wade  and 
W™-  Henry  Mills,  Wardens  :  George  Hicks,  Malachi  Murphy, 
and  Robert  Anderson,  Overseers  of  the  poor.  Nothing  of 
special  interest  appears  among  the  Parish  records  of  this  year. 
Public  affairs  were  becoming  more  and  more  the  engrossing 
topic  of  thought  and  conversation,  the  Parochial  Officers 
giving  their  attention  only  to  the  care  of  the  poor,  and  the 
appointment  of  assessors  and  collectors  of  the  Parish  taxes. 

On  Easter  Monday,  April  12th,  1773,  were  elected, 
Charles  Augustus  Steward,  Claudius  Pegnes,  Ely  Kershaw, 
Jesse  Counsell,  Thomas  Lide,  Thomas  EUerbe,  and  William 
Dewitt,  Vestrymen  :  Philip  Pledger  and  Samuel  Wise, 
Wardens  :  Alexander  Gordon,  Malachi  Murphy,  and  John 
Blakeney,  Overseers  of  the  poor.  The  meetings  of  the 
vestry  were  more  frequent  than  during  the  previous  year, 
the  care  of  the  poor  increasing  upon  them.  The  sum  of 
357/.  13s.  was  expended  in  1772;  and  in  more  than  one 
instance  60/.  had  been  appropriated  to  a  single  individual — 
a  liberal  amount  for  a  sparse  population,  with  limited  means 
at  their  command. 

On  Easter  Monday,  April  4th,  1774-,  the  Church  Officers 
elected  were  as  follows,  viz. :  Henry  Counsell,  John  Andrew, 
Thomas  Bingham,  Burwell  Boyakin,  Aaron  Daniel,  John 
Hewstess,  and  William  Henry  Harrington,  Vestrymen : 
Claudius  Pegnes  and  Ely  Kershaw,  Wardens  :  John  Kim- 
brough, Charles  Evans,  jun.,  and  Thomas  Conner,  sen., 
Overseers  of  the  poor. 

Thomas  Williams,  George  Hicks,  and  William  Ellerbe, 
Avere  appointed  Parish  Assessors,  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
the  preceding  year.  The  name  of  Thomas  Lide  was  sub- 
sequently inserted  in  the  place  of  George  Hicks.  A  tax  of 
35.,  current  money,  was  laid  on  every  100  acres  of  land  ; 
also,  for  all  negro  slaves,  free  negroes,  Mulattoes   and  Mes- 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CIIEKAWS.  179 

tizoes.  Philip  Pledger  and  Samuel  Wise  were  api^ointcd  to 
colleet  the  same. 

The  same  tax  was  levied  the  next  year,  and  Claudius 
Pegnes  and  Ely  Kershaw  were  appointed  Colleetors.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Vestry  on  this  occasion  (April,  1775),  the 
name  of  Chatham,  instead  of  ''  Cheraw '-"  and  "  Charraws," 
as  heretofore,  appears  for  the  first  time  in  the  Parish  re- 
cords. The  change  was  made  in  honour  of  the  Earl  of 
Chatham,  the  eloquent  advocate  of  American  rights. 

The  following  Church  Officers  were  elected  April  24th, 
1775,  viz.  :  Aaron  Pearson,"^  William  Dewitt,  William 
EUerbe,  William  Strother,t  John  Westfield,  John  Jackson, 
and  Charles  Irby,  Vestrymen :  Henry  William  Harrington 
and  William  Pegnes,  Wardens  :  Daniel  Sparks,  Robert 
Lowry,J  and  William  Allen,  Overseers  of  the  poor. 

After  this  time,  scarcely  anything  more  than  the  annual 
election  of  ofl&cers,  the  provision  for  the  Parish  taxes,  and. 
the  care  of  orphans,  appears  in  the  records. 

In  1776,  the  officers  elected  were,  William  Ellerbe, 
Francis  Gillespie,  Capt.  John  Blakeny,  Thomas  Powe,  Mat- 
thew Saunders,  Capt.  Lafayette  Benton,  and  Buckley  Kim- 
brough.  Vestrymen  :  Col.  George  Pawley  and  Claudius 
Pegnes,  Wardens  :  Alexander  Deau  Bois  and  Peter  Roach, 
Overseers  of  the  poor. 

For  1777,  the  following  :  John  Kimbrough,  Thomas  Lide, 
James  Hicks,  Thomas  Powe,  William  Pegnes,  Joseph  Grif- 
fith, and  Robert  Lowry,  Vestrymen  :  John  Andrews  and 
Charles  Irby,  Wardens  :  Benjamin  Jackson,  John  Pledger, 
and  John  Jackson,  Overseers  of  the  poor. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Wardens  and  Vestry,  21st  June, 
1777,  it  was  resolved,  "That   a  letter  should  be  written  to 


*  The  Pearsons  settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  in  what  is  now  M;irl- 
borough  Disti-ict,  on  a  valuable  tract  of  land,  known  afterwards  and  from  an 
early  day  as  the  "  Big  Plantation."  Moses  Pearson  was  a  noted  captain  in 
the  Revolution. 

"I"  William  Strother,  whose  name  appears  here  for  the  first  time,  was  a  son 
of  Charles  Strother,  who  emigrated  from  Virginia  to  Charles-town,  and  died 
there.  Willi^i  Strother  moved  to  Cheraw  not  long  before  this  period.  He 
married,  first,  a  Miss  Rogers,  daughter  of  Uenjamin  Rogers,  and  afterwards, 
Lucy  HicL's,  a  daughter  of  Colonel  George  Hicks. 

'^  'I'he  Lowrys  settled  in  the  upper  pnrt  of  what  is  now  Chesterfield  Dis- 
trict,— a  name  long  and  respectably  known  in  its  history. 

N  2 


180  HISTOKY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

the  Rev.  Mr.  Winchesters^  to  preach  a  sermon,  on  Satur- 
day, the  28th  instant,  on  the  happy  deliverance  of  the  State 
from  our  cruel  and  oppressive  enemies,  28th  June,  1776.^^ 

It  was  the  first  anniversary  of  that  auspicious  event,  and 
the  hearts  of  the  people  were  full  of  gratitude  to  Him,  who 
ruled  the  destinies  of  nations,  and  in  the  hour  of  their  first 
great  conflict  had  given  them  the  victory. 

In  the  spring  of  the  foUoAving  year,  the  same  tax  as  be- 
fore was  laid,  and  Charles  Irby  and  William  Pegnes  were 
appointed  Collectors. 

The  Church  Oflficers  for  1778  were,  Benjamin  Hicks,  sen., 
Claudius  Pegnes,  jun.,  William  Thomas,  Francis  Gillespie, 
Thomas  EUerbe,  William  Ellerbe,  and  John  Speed,  Vestry- 
men :  Benjamin  Hicks,  jun.,  and  William  Lide,  Wardens  : 
Benjamin  Rogers,  Tristram  Thomas  and  William  Blassin- 
game,  were  appointed  Overseers  of  the  Poor.  The  foregoing 
continued  in  office  until  the  spring  of  1780. 

The  following  was  the  record  of  Parish  Officers  until 
1785  :— 

For  1780. 
Wm.  Pegnes  and  Benj.  Hicks,  Sen.    .   Wardens. 
Claudius    Pegnes,    Jr.,    Thos.    Powe,"! 

Charles  Irby,  John  Westfield,  John  f  ^ 

Andrews,  John  Wilson,  and  Holdenf  '' 

Wade j 

John    Husbands,     Guthridge     Lyons.)  „  „_ 

1  T>     .      .     T    1  I  Overseers  oi  Poor, 

and  Benjamm  Jackson  .  .] 

Jesse  Baggette         ....  Clerk. 

1781. 
Wm.  Pegnes,  and  Benj.  Hicks,  Sen.  .   Wardens. 
Charles    Irby,    Claudius  Pegnes,    Jr.,] 

John  Westfield,  Holden  Wade,  and}- Vestrymen. 

John  Wilson       .  .  .  .  j 

Guthridge  Lyons    ....  Overseer  of  Poor. 

1782. 
Thos.  Ellerbe  and  Wra.  Strother  .  Wardens. 


*  Mr.  Winchester  was  the  pastor  of  the  Welch  Neck  Church,  and  an  ardent 
friend  of  his  country. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  181 

Cliarles    Irby^    Claudms   PcgncSj    Jr./ 

John  Westfield,  Jolin  AYilson,  Wm.  -Vestrymen. 
Lide,  Wm.  De-vrittj  and  Wm.  Pegues 
1783. 

Thomas  Powe,  and  Claudius  Pcgnes,  Jr.,  Wardens. 

Charles    Irby,   John    Andrews,    Thos.\ 
EUerbe,   Benj.    Hicks,   Jr.,   Robert  I  „ 
Pasley,  Jas.  Gillespie,   and   Lemuel  j  ^ 

Benton      .  .  .  .  .j 

1784. 

Benj.  Hicks,  Sen.,  and  Wm.  Pegnes  .  Wardens. 

Thos.    Ellerbe,   Wm.    Strother,    John\ 

Westfield,  Claudius  Pegnes,  Jr.,  John  I  ^ 

Wilson,  Benj.  Hicks,  Jr.,  and  Wm.  [  ^ 

Ligate        .  .  .  .  .j  • 

1785. 

Col.  Lemuel  Benton,  and  Capt.  Calvin)  „^     , 

^  ^  Wardens. 

Spencer     .  .  .  .  .j 

Thos.  Powe,  Wm.  Ellerbe,  Sen.,  Johnj 

Andrews,     Holden     Wade,     Wm.  p^estrymen. 

Pegnes,  and  Morgan  Brown  .  .  j . 

With  this  year  (1785),  upon  the  division  of  the  Parish 
into  Counties,  and  the  establishment  of  County  Courts,  the 
parochial  organization  ceased  to  exist.  No  further  records 
appear  until  after  the  year  1819,  when  the  Parish  was 
revived  as  before  mentioned,  under  Rev.  Mr.  Fowler.  Upon 
the  prorogation  of  the  Assembly  in  April,  1770,  a  Bill  was 
under  consideration  for  altering  the  bounds  of  St.  David^s 
Parish.  It  appears  to  have  been  subsequently  abandoned, 
and  of  its  provisions  nothing  is  known. 

Amid  the  changes  of  time  and  ci^dl  rule,  only  the  old 
Parish  Church  remained  to  tell  its  tale  in  the  associations 
and  traditions  connected  with  its  earlier  days.  It  had  been 
polluted  by  the  tread  of  invading  foes,  and  resounded  with 
the  shock  of  arms.  Around  it  lie  the  dead  of  successive 
generations.  But  a  year  or  two  morfe,  and  its  first  century 
will  be  completed. 

Long  may  it  stand,  a  touching  relic  of  the  past,  the 
spiritual  home  and  joy  of  many  in  the  present,  and  to  be 
open,  as  of  old,  to  others  yet  to  come  ! 


182  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Parochial  organization  inadequate — Disturbances  continue — -The  Moderators 
and  Regulators — Circuit  Courts  growing  in  favoni- — Governor's  address  on 
the  subject — Circuit  Court  Bill  passed  by  Assembly — Governor  refuses  his 
sanction — Again  passed  and  made  a  law — Its  provisions — Boundaries  of 
Cheraw  District — Times  for  holding  courts — Commissioners  for  building 
court  house  and  gaol — Their  proceedings — Cheraw  Hill  selected — Petition 
of  Freeholders,  &c.,  against  it,  and  in  favour  of  Long  Bluff — Counter  peti- 
tion— Memorial  of  commissioners  to  Assembly  sust-\ining  their  action — 
Assembly  decides  for  Long  Bluff — Lieutenant  Governor's  order  to  Commis- 
sioners— Their  error — Effect  of  Courts — The  buildings  progress — Distur- 
bances revived — Last  affiiir  of  the  kind  on  Pedee — Court  house  finished — 
Account  of  it — Officers,  how  appointed — Persons  selected — Opening  of 
Court  at  Long  Bluff — Presentments  of  grand  jurj',  November,  1772 — Pre- 
sentments in  April,  1773  —  Reflections  on  same — Presentments  in  Xovember, 
1773 — Published  accounts— Presentments  April,  1774 — Early  history  ot 
Bar  of  the  Old  Cheraws. 

Going  back  to  the  beginuing  of  the  year  1769;,  it  will  be 
found  that  the  parochial  organization^  established  a  short 
time  before,  did  not  meet,  in  some  very  important  respects, 
the  wants  of  the  people.  Though  affording  partial  relief  in  the 
provision  made  for  a  Representative  of  their  own  in  Assembly, 
and  the  care  of  the  poor,  it  left  one  of  the  chief  gi'ievances, 
of  which  they  had  long  complained,  remaining  in  full  force. 
They  were  yet  without  a  Court  of  their  own,  easy  of  access, 
and  in  which  rights  could  be  enforced,  and  crime  punished, 
without  the  intolerable  burden  of  long  delays  and  ruinous 
expenses.  Comparative  quiet,  indeed,  had  been  restored 
through  the  effective  measures  of  the  Regulators,  and  yet 
the  disturbances  continued  to  threaten  the  public  peace  and 
safety.  In  the  South  Carolina  and  American  General 
Gazette  of  27th  March,  1769,  it  was  said  :—« Various 
accounts  continue  to  be  received  from  the  back  country. 
A  new  set  of  people,  who  call  themselves  Moderators,  have 
appeared  against  the  Regulators.  These  two  parties  mutually 
accuse  each  other.  What  justice  they  have  on  either  side, 
time^  will  discover.-'-' 

The  plan  of  a  Circuit  Court  Act   was   gaining   ground 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  183 

daily.  On  the  29th  Jiine,  the  Governor,  in  liis  address  to 
the  Assembly,  said  :  "  Although  there  are  several  matters 
that  well  deserve  your  serious  consideration,  I  eannot  help 
mentioning  to  you  the  grievances  that  your  fellow- subjects 
suffer  in  the  interior  parts  of  this  Province,  from  the  want 
of  an  equal  distribution  of  justice,  as  a  matter  that  claims 
your  immediate  attention  and  regard.  As  I  have  lately 
been  an  eye-witness  to  the  distresses  they  labour  under,  I 
earnestly  recommend  to  you,  to  piu'sne  such  measures  as 
will  tend  to  relieve' them  j  and,  in  order  to  ease  your  delibe- 
rations on  this  point,  I  will  lay  before  you  copies  of  the 
Report  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  for  Trade  and  Planta- 
tions, on  the  Bill  for  establishing  Circuit  Courts  in  this 
Province ;  passed  some  time  since,  wherein  you  will  see 
stated,  the  reasons  that  operate  against  that  Act's  receiving 
the  Royal  approbation." 

This  timely  and  urgent  recommendation  of  his  Excellency 
had  the  desired  effect,  though  the  Assembly  needed  not  any 
new  arguments  to  lead  them  to  speedy  action  on  the  sidjject. 

The  result  was,  that  on  the  5tli  of  July  following,  a  Cir- 
cuit Court  Bill  was  brought  into  Assembly,  and  passed  its 
first  reading.  It  was  also  stated  in  the  public  prints  of  the 
day,  "  that,  in  consideration  of  the  great  inconveniences 
and  grievances  to  which  the  back  settlers  are  subject,  as 
soon  as  the  Circuit  Court  Bill  is  gone  through,  another  Bill 
will  be  presented  to  the  House  for  establishing  temporary 
County  Courts.^'  On  27th  July,  the  Circuit  Court  Bill,  having 
been  jjassed,  was  presented  to  the  Governor,  who  refused  his 
sanction.  On  what  ground,  after  his  own  urgent  recom- 
mendation for  some  measure  of  relief,  does  not  appear. 

There  may  have  been,  in  his  view,  some  particular  featm'c 
of  the  Bill  of  an  objectionable  character.  It  passed  the  House 
again,  and  on  the  2nd  of  August  received  the  Governor's 
approbation. 

And  thus,  the  long-fought  battle  ended  in  victory  for  the 
people.  Popular  rights,  enforced  by  the  strong  arm  of  po- 
pular sovereignty,  came  out  of  the  conflict  triumphant. 

It  was  thought  advisable  by  the  Government  at  this  cri- 
tical juncture,  to  adopt,  in  addition,  a  precautionary  mea- 
sure for  piescrving  the  public  peace   on   the   Pedce    and   in 


184  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

neighbouring  parts  of  the  Province.  The  Gazette  of  August 
10- 17th,  said:  "His  Honor  the  Lieut.-Gov.  has  been 
pleased  to  appoint  George  Gabriel  Powell,  Esq.,  Colonel  of 
the  Militia  in  the  North  Eastern  parts  of  this  Province,  to 
be  one  of  his  Majesty^s  assistant  Judges  ;  an  appointment, 
which,  it  is  thought,  will  give  general  satisfaction,  particu- 
larly to  the  back  settlers,  by  whom  that  gentleman  is  much 
and  deservedly  respected.^^ 

The  Circuit  Court  Act  was  passed,  "  for  laying  off  several 
Districts  or  Circuits,  and  authorizing  the  holding  of  Courts 
of  General  Sessions  and  Common  Pleas  twice  a  year,  for  the 
trial  of  causes  criminal  and  civil,  arising  within  the  same 
respectively,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  as  the  Justices  of  Assize 
and  Nisi  Prius  do  in  Great  Britain.  Circuit  Courts  were, 
by  this  Act,  to  be  held  at  Orangeburg,  Ninety-Six,  the  Che- 
raws,  George-town,  Beaufort,  and  Charles-town" — to  sit 
six  days  each.  The  Courts  to  be  held  in  Chai^les-town, 
however,  were  not  strictly  speaking  Circuit  Courts ;  but,  like 
those  of  Westminster  Hall,  in  England,  alone  possessed  of 
complete  original  and  final  jurisdiction,  all  writs  and  other 
civil  processes  issuing  therefrom  and  being  made  returnable 
thereto. 

The  provision  made  for  the  interior  Districts,  was  not,  for 
this  reason,  altogether  complete,  though  a  signal  advance 
for  them,  on  their  previous  condition.  Henceforth,  Govern- 
ment became  more  efficient,  and  justice  was  brought  nearer 
the  habitation  of  each  individual.^ 

And  withal,  as  their  own  rights  would  thus  be  made  to 
pass  in  review  before  them,  as  also  the  wrongs  and  oppres- 
sions of  Government,  if  any  there  were,  a  decided  impetus 
would  thereby  be  given  to  the  progress  of  enlightened  senti- 
ments, and  the  expression  of  them,  in  a  bold  and  indepen- 
dent manner  by  the  people. 

"  By  the  Circuit  Court  Act,  the  Judges  were  authorized 
to  determine,  without  a  Jury,  in  a  summary  way,  on  peti- 
tion, all  causes  cognizable  in  the  Circuit  Courts  for  any  sum 
not  exceeding  twenty  pounds  sterling ;  except  when  the  title 
of  land  should  be  in  question.      But  each  party  might  claim 


*  Brevard's  "  Digest/'  vol.  i.  p.  14. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD   CHERAWS.  185 

to  have  the  benefit  of  a  Jury  trial.  The  office  of  Provost 
Marshal  ^vas  abolished^  and  Sheriffs  and  Clerks  were  ap- 
pointed/'''^ 

The  Judicial  District  of  Cheraws  "  was  to  be  bounded  by 
the  coui'se  of  Lynche's  Creek  north  from  the  point  where  a 
north-west  line  from  the  northernmost  corner  of  Williamburg 
Township  reached  the  said  Creek,  to  the  Provincial  line,  by 
the  Provincial  boundary,  and  the  line  dividing  St.  Mark's 
and  Prince  Frederick's  Parish,  which  shall  be  continued  till 
it  intersects  the  northern  Provincial  line.''t 

These  boundaries  were  identical  with  those  of  the  Parish 
of  St.  David,  created  by  Act  of  the  previous  year.  The 
Courts  were  to  be  holden  "  on  every  15th  day  of  April  and 
November,  at  the  Cheraws,  for  the  District  of  CheraAvs." 
And,  by  the  Act,  the  Judges  of  the  Courts  of  Common 
Pleas  Avere  authorized  and  directed,  "  to  contract  and  agree 
with  proper  persons,  for  the  building  and  erecting  Court 
Houses  and  Gaols,  in  places  most  convenient  for  holding 
the  said  Com'ts,  and  to  purchase  laud  for  that  purpose." 

George  Hicks,  Thomas  Lide,  Jonathan  Wise,  Benjamin 
Rogers,  and  Eli  Kershaw,  were  appointed  Commissioners 
for  building  the  Court  House  and  Gaol  in  the  CheraAV  Pre- 
cinct. 

Agreeably  to  the  instructions  sent  them  by  the  Lieute- 
nant-Governor, 22nd  March,  1770,  they  met  on  13th  April, 
and  contracted  for  one  and  a  half  acres  of  land  on  CheraAV 
Hill,  whereon  they  proposed  to  have  the  said  buildings 
erected ;  as  they  judged  that  the  most  convenient  and  pro- 
per place,  from  its  being  the  most  public  and  healthy 
situation  on  the  Pedee. 

Active  steps  were  taken  to  carry  their  resolution  into 
eflfect.  It  excited,  hoAvever,  very  decided  opposition  on  the 
part  of  many,  who  thought  the  neighbourhood  of  Long 
Bluff  a  better  location  for  the  Court  House. 

The  result  Avas,  that  a  petition  for  the  change,  and  a  coun- 
ter-petition Avere  sent  up  to  the  Assembly,  and  action  taken 
thereon. 


*  Brevard's  "  Digest,"  vol.  i.  p.  15. 
•j-  "Statutes  at  Large,"  vol.  vii.  p.  199. 


186  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

The  following  extracts,  from  the  Journal  of  the  House, 
will  explain  the  whole  proceeding  : 

"  August  iVth,  1770. 

"  A  Petition  of  the  Freeholders  and  Electors  of  the  Parish 
of  St.  David^s  and  the  Cheraw  District,  was  presented  to  the 
House  and  read,  in  the  words  following,  viz. :  '  That,  where- 
as an  Act  of  Assembly,  passed  the  29th  July,  1 769,  for 
establishing  Courts,  &c.,  for  the  more  convenient  adminis- 
tration of  Justice  in  this  Province,  and  for  the  ease  and 
advantage  of  the  Inhabitants  thereof;  And,  whereas,  there 
is  another  Act  passed  at  the  last  Session  of  Assembly, 
nominating  the  Long  Bluff  as  the  place  for  building  the 
Court  House  and  Gaol  for  the  Cheraw  District ;  which  Acts 
your  Petitioners  humbly  conceive  perfectly  answer  and  con- 
firm the  purposes  of  the  first  (to  wit),  the  convenience,  ease, 
and  advantage  of  the  Inhabitants ;  for  your  Petitioners  think 
the  Long  Bluff  not  far  from  the  real  centre  of  the  District ; 
at  least  the  nearest  to  it  of  any  place  they  know  suitable 
for  the  Court  House  on  Pedee  River.  These  Acts,  so  wisely 
calculated  to  answer  many  of  the  greatest  and  best  pur- 
poses, must,  under  the  present  House  of  Representatives, 
ever  dear  to  their  constituents,  and  especially  to  the  grateful 
Inhabitants  of  St.  David,  be  enforced.  Nevertheless,  it  is 
with  the  deepest  concern,  your  Petitioners  find  themselves 
under  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  remonstrating  to  this 
Honorable  House  against  the  proceedings  of  a  majority  of 
the  Commissioners  relative  to  the  Court  House,  they  being 
acquaintances  and  neighbours  of  your  Petitioners,  a  conduct 
your  Petitioners  apprehend,  tending  altogether  (as  far  as  in 
them  lies),  to  defeat  the  good  intention  of  the  Legislature, 
they  having  appointed  the  Cheraw  Hill  (as  it  is  lately 
called),  or  a  place  at  or  near  INIr.  Kershaw^s  Store,  for  the 
Court  House,  in  direct  opposition,  as  your  Petitioners  appre- 
hend, to  the  Act  of  Assembly  :  Because,  a  very  worthy 
Member  of  the  House,  of  the  first  character,  Thomas  Lynch, 
Esq.,  informed  them  there  was  an  Act  for  having  the  Court 
House  and  Gaol  at  the  Long  Bluff,  which  information  was 
given  before  they  had  contracted  for  any  part  of  the  mate- 
rials ;  and  soon  afterwards,  our  own  worthy  and  honorable 
Representative  also  acquainted   them   with   the  certainty  of 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHE  RAWS.  187 

the  Act,  and  even  sent  them  a  copy  thereof,  before  it  was 
printed,  certified  by  the  Secretary,  to  convince  the  Commis- 
sioners they  were  acting  wi-ong  :  Yet  they  have  contracted 
for,  drawn  on  and  received  from  the  Pnblic  Treasurer,  three 
tliousand  pounds,  in  order  to  buikl  a  Court  House  at  Cheraw 
Hill.  This  appropriation  of  the  public  money  is,  your 
Petitioners  humbly  conceive,  altogether  contrary  to  the  in- 
tention of  the  Legislature,  and  tending  to  retard  the  work, 
wliich  will  be  a  prejudice  to  the  whole  Province,  if,  as  your 
Petitioners  are  told,  the  Judges  do  not  ride  the  Circuit  till 
the  Court  Houses  are  all  finished  according  to  law.  If  the 
proceedings  of  the  Commissioners  were  not  contrary  to  the 
Act  of  Assembly,  yet,  the  ill  consequences  of  their  conduct 
to  the  inhabitants  of  this  Parish,  will  be  obvious  to  all 
who  consider,  that  Mr.  Kershaw^s  store  is  seventeen  or 
eighteen  miles  from  the  Long  Bluff,  which  consequently  en- 
hances the  cost  of  every  precept,  as  well  as  the  expense  and 
fatigue  of  travelling  an  unnecessary  distance;  all  which, 
your  Petitioners  conceive,  the  poor  people  will  be  the  like- 
liest to  suffer,  as,  in  all  probability,  they  will  be  the  most 
liable  to  actions  of  debt.  If  the  intention  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, in  passing  the  Act,  was  partly  to  encourage  trade,  as 
some  of  the  Commissioners  say,  yet,  their  wanting  the 
Court  House  at  Mr.  Kershaw's  store,  within  eight  or  nine 
miles  of  the  Province  line,  would,  we  think,  only  encourage 
the  inland  trade  of  that  part  of  North  Carolina  next  to  the 
Court  House.  There  is  not  an  argument  which  your 
Petitioners  ever  heard  advanced  in  favor  of  Cheraw  Hill, 
nor,  any  produced  against  the  Long  Bluff,  why  (for  con- 
venience, agreeableness  of  the  place,  as  well  as  its  central 
situation)  it  should  not  answer  all  the  salutary  purposes  in- 
tended by  the  Act,  but  what  your  Petitioners  are  wdling, 
if  called  upon,  and  think  themselves  perfectly  able  to  con- 
fute :  and,  although  two  of  the  Commissioners  very  candidly 
confessed  they  are  interested  in  having  the  Court  House  at 
Cheraw  Hill,  viz.,  Messrs.  Eli  Kershaw  and  Thomas  Lidc, 
— '  for  then  we  Avill  sell  grog  and  osnaburgs,'  as  Mr. 
Kershaw  expressed  it ;  yet,  your  Petitioners  with  confidence 
hope,  this    Honorable  House    will  always  protect  the  public 

private  interests,  and  we 


188  HISTORY  OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

think  we  have  reason  to  suspect,  that  the  Commissioners 
concerned  in  the  Draft  upon  the  Tahle^  intend  to  use  their 
own  and  their  friends^  interest  to  have  the  Act  repealed  at 
the  next  meeting  of  Assembly,  in  order  to  carry  their  point 
of  having  the  Court  House  at  Cheraw  Hill ;  but,  should 
such  a  motion  be  made  in  the  House  by  Petition  or  other- 
wise, your  Petitioners  humbly  pray  this  Honorable  House 
maturely  to  consider  of  it,  and  to  repeal  or  continue  the 
Act,  as  to  you  in  your  great  wisdom,  shall  seem  meet/^* 

"  21st  August,  1V70. 
"  A  Petition  of  a  considerable  part  of  the  Free-holders 
and  Inhabitants  of  the  Cheraw  Precinct,  in  the  Parish  of 
St.  David,  was  presented  to  the  House,  and  read  in  the 
words  following,  viz.  :  '  That  yom-  Petitioners  have  always 
entertained  the  highest  regard  for  the  Legislature,  and  were 
never  so  sensible  of  its  wisdom  and  equity  as  when  an  Act 
was  passed  for  the  more  easy  and  convenient  administration 
of  justice  ;  nor,  did  your  Petitioners  fail  of  paying  due 
respect  to  that  impartial  regard  to  the  general  good  which 
appointed  this  populous  part  of  the  country  to  be  a  Precinct, 
by  which  salutary  measure,  your  Petitioners  will  be  de- 
livered from  innumerable  grievances  and  enjoy  one  of  the 
best  privileges  of  the  British  Constitution.  That  your 
Petitioners  had  an  additional  prospect  of  felicity  by  the 
Commissioners  having  appointed  the  Cheraw  Hill  as  the 
most  proper  place  for  the  Court  House  and  Gaol  to  be  built 
on,  agreeably  to  the  trust  reposed  in  them,  before  they  were 
informed  of  a  different  appointment  made  by  the  Legisla- 
ture. That  your  Petitioners  (jjaying  the  greatest  deference 
to  the  wisdom  which  originated  the  choice  of  the  Long 
Bluff,  in  preference  to  the  said  Cheraw  Hill,  on  account  of 
the  former  being  nearer  to  the  centre  of  this  Precinct),  pray 
for  leave  to  represent,  that,  from  a  personal  knowledge  of 
both  places,  they  humbly  conceive  it  would  better  answer 
the  beneficent  intention  of  the  Legislature,  if  the  Courts  of 
Justice  should  be  held  at  the  place  nominated  by  the  Com- 
missioners j  because  your  Petitioners    apprehend,  that  the 


"Journal  of  House  of  Assembly,"  No.  38,  pp.  407-409. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  189 

centre  will  certaiuly  be  removed  a  cousiclerable  distance 
liigher  up,  when  the  error  which  was  made  in  removing  the 
Provincial  line  shall  be  Rectified  :  and,  more  especially,  be- 
cause your  Petitioners  conceive  from  the  situation  of  the 
Cheraw  Hill,  with  respect  to  the  country  round  about  it, 
and  also  from  the  apparent  circumstances  of  trade  now 
existing,  and  very  likely  to  flourish,  that  place  will  always 
undoubtedly  be  the  Capitol  of  the  Precinct,  and  therefore, 
every  encouragement  given  to  it,  will,  in  the  same  proportion 
as  it  promotes  commerce,  encourage  industry  in  general,  but 
particularly  the  poor  families  on  the  frontier  of  this  Pro- 
vince, who  are  now  very  numerous,  and  daily  increasing 
by  emigrations  from  the  Northern  Colonies,  and  whose  lands 
are  capable  of  the  best  improvements;  but,  were  it  not  for 
the  encouragement  given  them  by  the  Stores  at  the  Cheraws, 
their  valuable  lands  would  be  in  a  manner  lost,  on  account 
of  the  great  distance  they  are  situated  from  market,  which 
circumstance  alone  has  been  introductory  of  some  of  the 
worst  consequences.  Your  Petitioners  therefore  humbly 
pray,  that  such  instructions  may  be  given  to  the  Commis- 
sioners as  in  your  wisdom  you  shall  deem  most  proper/ 
"  Ordered  to  be  taken  into  consideration  to-morrow/^* 

"  22ad  August,  1770. 
"  \Mien  the  House  (according  to  order),  proceeded  to 
take  into  consideration  the  Petitions  of  the  Free-holders  and 
Electors  of  the  Parish  of  St.  David^s  and  Cheraw  District, 
which  was  presented  to  this  House  on  the  17th  inst.,  and 
also  the  Petition  of  a  considerable  part  of  the  Free-holders 
and  Inhabitants  of  the  Cheraw  Precinct,  in  the  Parish  of 
St.  David,  which  was  presented  to  this  House  yesterday, 
and  the  Petitions  were  severally  read,  and  a  memorial  of 
George  Hicks,  Thomas  Lide,  Jonathan  Wise,  Benjamin 
Rogers,  and  Ely  Kershaw,  commissioners  appointed  for 
building  the  Court  House  and  Gaol  in  the  Cheraw  Precinct, 
presented  to  the  House,  and  read  in  the  words  following, 
viz. :  '  That  they,  the  subscribers,  being  appointed  commis- 
sio7iers  to  contract  for,  and  superintend  the  building  a 
Circuit  Court  House  and  Gaol  at  Cheraw,  in  the  Parish  of 


*  "  Journal  of  the  House/'  No.  38,  pp.  415,  416. 


190  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

St.  Davidj  by  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly,  passed  tlie 
29tb  July  J  1769,  did  agreeably  to  the  instructions  sent 
them  by  the  Lieut,-Gov.,  the  22nd  March  last,  in  obedience 
thereto,  meet  on  the  13th  April,  and  contracted  for  one  and 
a  half  acres  of  land  on  Cheraw  Hill,  whereon  they  proposed 
to  have  the  said  buildings  erected,  as  they  judged  that  the 
most  convenient  and  proper  place,  from  its  being  the  most 
public  and  healthy  situation  on  Pedee  River  ;  Public  notice 
was  also  given,  that  they  proposed  to  meet  again  at  Cheraw 
on  the  10th  of  May,  at  which  meeting  they  received  a  letter 
from  George  Gabriell  Powell,  Esq.,  wherein  he  informed 
them,  that  a  bill  for  removing  the  Court  House  and  Gaol 
to  Long  Bluff  had  been  framed,  but  had  not  passed  ;  that, 
therefore,  the  commissioners  were  left  at  liberty  to  have 
the  said  buildings  carried  on  with  all  j)ossible  desj)atch,  at 
any  place  they  thought  proper :  they,  therefore,  agreeably 
to  this  letter,  and  the  instructions  sent  them  formerly,  con- 
tracted for  the  materials,  the  chief  of  which  are  now  ready 
upon  the  land  above  mentioned. 

" '  But,  since  our  agreeing  for  the  said  materials,  your 
memorialists  have  been  informed  that  the  General  Assembly 
had  thought  proper  to  have  the  said  buildings  at  Long  Bluff 
— a  place  which,  they  humbly  conceive,  is  not  so  convenient 
as  the  above,  being  a  low  situation,  surrounded  with  low, 
fiat  laud,  and  subject  at  some  seasons  of  the  year  to  be  in 
a  manner  surrounded  with  water,  and  not  likely  ever  to  be 
a  town,  or  place  of  trade. 

"  They  Avould  also  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  though  the 
Long  Bluff,  as  the  Provincial  line  now  runs,  is  nearer  to 
the  centre  of  the  Cheraw  District,  yet  they  are  informed 
the  north  Provincial  line  is  likely  to  be  extended  higher  up  ; 
but,  even  if  it  never  should,  ^tis  their  opinion  that  the 
Cheraw  Hill  will  be  as  central  to  the  majority  of  the  people, 
and  they  conceive  it  would  have  been  as  convenient  to 
have  placed  the  Court  House  and  Gaol  for  George-town 
District  in  the  centre  of  that  Precinct,  as  to  place  the 
Court  House  and  Gaol  for  Cheraw  District  at  Long  Bluff. 
And  they  further  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  the  Cheraw 
Hill  is  at  present,  and  has  been  for  many  years  past,  the 
most  public  and  the  greatest   place   of  trade   upon   Pedee 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERATTS.  191 

River.  They,  therefore^  hope  this  Honorable  House  will 
take  the  premises  into  consideration,  and  get  such  informa- 
tion of  the  situation  of  both  places  as  to  j^our  Honors  shall 
seem  meet ;  and  they  have  agreed,  in  order  that  the  public 
may  not  be  disappointed,  to  continue  to  forward  the  work 
already  contracted  for,  at  Cheraw  Hill,  with  all  expedition, 
so  as  to  have  them  ready  as  soon  as  the  other  Court  Houses 
and  Gaols.  And,  after  this  Honorable  House  hath  con- 
sidered the  matter,  and  obtained  such  information  of  both 
places  as  you  may  judge  necessary,  should  it  then  be  deter- 
mined by  your  Honors  to  have  the  said  buildings  erected 
at  Long  Bluff,  the  frame  and  other  materials  might  be 
removed  thither  by  water,  though  at  a  very  considerable 
expense.  Your  memorialists,  therefore,  thought  it  neces- 
sary to  lay  their  proceedings  before  this  Honble.  House  for 
their  insj)ection,  and  at  the  same  time  to  give  their  opinion 
respecting  both  places,  in  order  that  they  might  not  be 
reflected  upon  hereafter,  should  this  Honorable  House  be 
imposed  on  and  persuaded  to  place  the  buildings  at  an  im- 
proper place. 

"  '  And  it  is  not  their  intention  to  contract  for  anything 
further,  until  they  receive  positive  orders  at  which  place 
they  can  with  safety  have  the  said  buildings  erected.^ 

"  And  a  debate  arising  thereon,  a  motion  was  made,  and 
the  question  being  put,  that  the  said  Petition  and  Memorial 
be  referred  to  a  committee,  the  House  divided,  and  the 
yeas  went  forth. 

Teller  for  the  Yeas,]  Teller  for  the  Noes,] 

Mr.  M'Kenzie.     j  Mr.  Lowndes.      j 

"  So  it  passed  in  the  negative. 
"  Ordered, 

"  That  a  IMessage  be  prepared  to  be  sent  to  the  Lieut. - 
Gov.,  to  desire,  that  his  Honor  will  be  pleased  to  give 
positive  directions  to  the  Commissioners  appointed  for  build- 
ing the  Court  House  and  Gaol  at  the  Cheraws  District,  to 
cause  the  said  Court  House  and  Gaol  to  be  erected  and 
built  at  the  Long  Bluff. 

"  xVecording  to  Order,  the  following  Message  was  pre- 
pared, to  be  sent   to   the  Lieut. -Gov. ;  which,  being  I'cad  a 


192  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEEAWS. 

second  time,  was  agreed  to,   and  Mr.  Speaker  ordered  to 
sign  the  same,  viz. : — 

"  May  it  please  your  Honor, 

"  It  appearing  to  this  House,  that  some  doubts 
have  arisen  with  the  Commissioners  for  building  the  Gaol 
and  Court  House  in  the  Cheraw  District,  about  the  proper 
place  for  erecting  the  same,  and  the  House  being  of  opinion 
that  it  is  clearly  fixed  by  an  Act  passed,  the  7th  of  April 
last,  to  be  at  a  place  called  the  Long  Blufi":  we  humbly 
desire  that  your  Honor  will  be  pleased  to  give  positive 
directions  to  the  Commissioners,  appointed  for  that  purpose, 
to  cause  the  said  Gaol  and  Court  House  to  be  immediately 
erected  on  the  spot  appointed  by  the  said  Act,  that  there 
may  be  no  delay  in  carrying  into  execution  the  good  pur- 
poses intended  by  the  Circuit  Court  law. 
"  By  order  of  the  House, 

"  Peter  Manigault,  Speaker.'^* 

"  A  Message  from  the  Lieut. -Gov.,  by  the  Clerk  of  the 
Council : — 

"  Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen, 

"  According  to  your  desire,  I  have  given 
positive  orders  to  the  Commissioners  for  building  the  Gaol 
and  Court-house  in  the  Cheraws  District,  to  erect  the  same 
at  the  Long  Bluff,  and  to  proceed  in  the  finishing  these 
buildings  with  the  utmost  expedition. 

"  Wm.  BuLL.t 
"  August  23rd,  1V70." 

The  subject  was  thus  very  properly  disposed  of  by  the 
House  without  debate.  And  though  the  Act  in  favour  of 
Long  Bluff  had  not  been  previously  passed,  the  fact  would 
yet  have  remained  obvious,  that  the  reasons  in  favour  of 
that  location  greatly  preponderated.  The  counter  petition 
in  support  of  Cheraw  Hill,  sounds  very  much  like  the  pro- 
duction of  a  Lawyer  paid  for  the  work,  and  the  Memorial 
signally  failed  to  establish  its   case.      The  interest  of  a  por- 


■  House  Journal,"  No.  38,  pp.  417-420.  f  Ibid,  pp.  421,  422. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  193 

tion  of  the  Coramissionci's,  who  AA'cre  influential,  doubtless, 
gave  shape  to  the  proceedings  of  the  Board ;  and  the  struggle 
was  between  the  interests  of  a  few  and  the  convenience  of 
many.  It  is  a  sad  illustration,  often  furnished  in  the  history 
of  human  affairs,  how  men  of  probity  may  thus  be  uncon- 
sciously biased.  Long  Bluff  itself  was  almost  too  high  up, 
could  an  eligible  location  below  have  been  made  available. 
Under  all  the  circumstances,  it  was  by  far  the  best  point 
that  could  have  been  selected,  and  there  ought  not  to  have 
been  a  momeut^s  hesitation  on  the  jaart  of  those  entrusted 
with  the  work.  In  the  subsequent  division  of  Cheraw  Dis- 
trict into  Counties,  this  was  the  point  most  central  to  them 
all.  It  never,  indeed,  became  a  place  of  any  commercial 
note,  and  was  eventually  abandoned,  or  its  immediate  site, 
at  least,  as  a  place  of  residence.  And  yet  it  was  at  that 
time  the  most  central  and  accessible  point  for  the  District 
generally,  and  withal,  a  place  of  some  importance,  as  it  con- 
tinued to  be  for  many  years  afterward. 

Henceforth,  Long  Bluff  Avas  to  become  the  resort  of  judges 
and  lawyers.  There,  deeds  of  blood  were  to  meet  with 
their  reward,  and  rigid  justice  was  to  be  meted  out.  There, 
a  people,  hitherto  practically  debarred  by  the  circumstances 
of  their  position  from  the  exercise  of  some  of  the  dearest  pri- 
vileges of  free-men,  were  no  longer  to  look  upon  the  admi- 
nistration of  justice  and  the  adjudication  of  their  rights 
from  afar.  The  law  was  now  to  come  nigh  them,  and  trial 
by  jury  to  be  their  immediate  prerogative. 

Public  wrongs,  as  well  as  private  grievances,  were  to  be 
the  subjects  of  their  investigation  and  complaint.  Answer- 
able themselves  to  the  Government  under  which  they  had 
been  reared,  that  power,  venerable  and  august  as  it  was, 
was  to  become  amenable  to  them  in  turn  for  its  abuses. 

And  but  a  few  short  years  were  to  pass  away  ere  Long 
Bluff  was  to  become  a  name,  indissolubly  associated  with 
all  that  was  lofty  and  cnnol)liug  in  the  first  developments 
and  commanding  power  of  the  spirit  of  independence  on  the 
Pedee. 

The  dispute  about  the  location,  and  the  transportation  of 
the  materials  from  Cheraw  Hill,  cfused  some  delay  in  the 
prosecution  of  the  work.      It  became  necessary  therefore  to 


194  HISTORY   OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

use  all  possible  despatcli,  so  as  not  to  be  behind  tbe  other 
Judicial  Districts  in  the  erection  of  their  Court  Houses  and 
Gaols.  As  early  as  April  12th^  1770,  it  was  said  in  the 
Gazette,  "  We  are  advised,  from  different  parts  of  the  country, 
that  the  utmost  despatch  is  used  by  the  several  Boards  of 
Commissioners  for  building  Precinct  Court  Houses  and 
Gaols,  to  complete  the  same  during  the  course  of  the  present 
year ;  especially  in  the  frontier  Districts,  which  again  begin 
to  be  infested  with  great  numbers  of  Horse  Thieves  and 
other  Vagabonds,  from  whose  depredations  and  outrages  they 
fear  they  can  never  be  completely  relieved  till  a  Vagrant 
Act  is  passed/^ 

The  partial  calm  which  followed  the  determined  action  of 
the  Regulators  during  the  previous  year,  was  seriously  dis- 
turbed again.  Old  offenders,  who  had  been  driven  off, 
returned  once  more. 

The  Gazette  of  April  5tli  said  :  "  We  are  informed  that 
a  great  number  of  Horse  Thieves,  and  other  Banditti,  who 
fled  from  the  back  parts  of  this  and  the  neighboi'ing  Pro- 
Adnces  quite  to  West  Florida,  while  the  regulating  scheme 
prevailed,  after  having  sold  the  horses  they  rode  off,  are 
returned  and  returning,  in  small  parties,  by  sea,  to  different 
sea-ports  on  this  continent,  perhaps  to  play  their  old  game 
over  again ;  but  they  will  be  narrowly  watched,  and  ^tis 
not  very  unlikely  that  some  of  these  gentry  may  furnish  the 
first  business  of  our  new  Circuit  Courts.^-* 

More  than  a  year  subsequent  to  this  time,  a  serious  dis- 
turbance occurred  on  the  Pedee. 

Of  the  last  notable  affair  of  the  kind,  the  Gazette  of 
October  3rd,  1771,  contained  the  following  account: — 
"  Winsler  Driggers,  a  notorious  villain,  who  escaped  out  of 
Savannah  Gaol  about  thirteen  months  ago,  under  sentence 
of  death,  and  for  the  taking  of  whom  a  reward  of  fifty 
pounds  sterling  was  offered,  has  at  length  met  with  his 
deserts.  He  was  taken  about  a  month  ago,  near  Drowning 
Creek,  in  the  Charraw  Settlement,  proved  to  be  a  Mulatto, 
tried  under  the  Negro  Act,  and  hanged.  It  seems  he  had 
been  in  those  parts  some  months,  collected  a  gang  of  other 
desperate  villains,  in  number  near  fifty,  who  committed  all 
manner    of   depredations.      Capt.   Philip    Pledger,  with    a 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  195 

number  of  his  uciglibors,  at  length  made  an  attempt  to 
take  or  drive  them  out  of  the  settlement.  As  soon  as  Capt. 
Pledger^s  party  appeared,  the  villains  fired,  and  Driggers 
wounded  Capt.  Pledger  in  one  of  his  arms,  so  that  he  has 
since  lost  it  (it  was  amputated).  Pledger's  party  returned 
the  fire,  killed  one  William  Hodge  and  one  Johnston, 
Avoundcd  Driggers  in  one  arm  and  the  back,  who  neverthe- 
less escaped,  but  was  afterwards  taken.''* 

Depredations  were  committed  after  this,  but  by  smaller 
parties  and  by  stealth,  until  the  troubles  of  the  E-evolution 
came  on,  when  this  class  of  people,  under  the  wing  of  the 
Tories,  renewed  their  outrages  more  boldly  than  ever. 

The  Court  House  and  Gaol  at  Long  Bluff,  now  rapidly 
approaching  completion,  were  built  after  the  substantial 
manner  of  those  days,  when  appearance  was  less  consulted 
than  strength  and  durability.  With  massive  walls  and 
heavy  oak  frames,  carefully  selected  and  well  put  together, 
the  Court  House  continued  to  stand  for  many  years,  and 
until  the  ancient  village,  in  the  next  century,  had  become 
deserted.  It  stood  on  the  right  of  the  main  street,  or  road, 
as  it  approached  the  river,  and  about  three  hundred  yards 
from  the  latter.      It  was  taken  down  about  the  year  1817. 

The  Parish  of  St.  David,  except  as  to  the  elective  fran- 
chise, was  henceforth  to  be  overshadowed  by  the  more 
imposing  judicial  organization  now  established,  and  the 
story  of  the  "  Old  Cheraws  "  to  become  the  subject  of  his- 
toric renown. 

The  offices  created  by  the  Circuit  Court  Act,  of  Sheriff, 
Clerk,  &c.,  were  to  be  filled  by  appointment  of  the  Crown. 
The  only  popular  election  yet  provided  for,  in  addition  to 
Parish  officers,  was  the  Member  of  Assembly.  The  Sheriff 
was  to  be  appointed  every  second  year,  the  Court  nominat- 
ing three  proper  persons,  freeholders,  and  residents  of  the 
District  or  Precinct,  whose   names  were  to  be  presented  to 


*  The  tradition  of  tliis  fight  was  handed  down  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
in  a  correct  shape  as  to  many  of  the  particular?;,  except  that  it  purported  to 
have  been  an  affair  between  Captain  Pledger  and  the  Tories. 

It  was  related  to  the  author  by  the  late  Captain  John  Tei-rell,  of  Marl- 
borough, a  grandson  of  Captain  Pledger.  'I'Vic  fight  occurred  near  the  place 
where  Captain  Terrell  lived  and  died.  Driggers  was  hung  near  Muddy  Creek, 
on  the  Old  River  Road,  six  miles  below  Cheraw,     The  spot  is  yet  pointed  out. 

o  2 


196  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

the  Governor^  Lieutenant-Governor,  or  Commauder-in-Chie  f 
for  tlie  time  being,  and  from  whom  one  was  to  be  selected 
and  commissioned. 

The  names  of  Charles  Augustus  Steward,  Alexander 
M'Intosh,  and  William  Henry  Mills,  were  presented  to  his 
Excellency  the  Governor  in  June  1772,  as  suitable  jDcrsons 
for  Sheriff  of  Cheraw  District.  As  was  to  be  expected,  from 
what  was  already  well  known  of  these  gentlemen  in  con- 
nexion with  their  political  sympathies,  the  latter  was 
selected  and  commissioned.  He  retained  his  place  until  a 
change  of  Government  in  1776.  On  the  3rd  of  November 
(1772),  the  Gazette  said:  "Since  our  last,  their  Honors, 
the  Jiidges,  set  out  to  open  and  hold  the  Circuit  Courts  for 
the  several  Districts  in  this  Province,  which  began  the  5tli 
inst.,  and  is  the  first  since  the  passing  of  that  Act.^^  Chief 
Justice  Gordon  and  Justice  Murray  took  the  "  North- 
Circuit,^''  as  it  was  then  called.  They  were  to  sit  first  in 
George-town.  On  Monday,  the  16th  November,  henceforth 
to  bo  a  day  memorable  in  the  history  of  the  Pedee,  the 
Court  was  to  open  at  Long  Bluff. 

Imagination  may  picture  to  itself  the  interest  with  which 
the  people  looked  forward  to  the  consummation  of  their 
long-cherished  wishes,  and  the  triumph  of  the  hard-fought 
battle  for  their  rights. 

Happily  for  them  and  for  their  children,  the  administra- 
tion of  justice  in  their  midst  on  so  august  an  occasion  was 
not  to  commence  without  invoking  first  the  blessing  of 
Heaven,  and  recalling  the  sanctions  of  that  Holy  Religion, 
established  by  Him  who  is  the  Lord  and  Judge  of  all  the 
earth.  In  accordance,  therefore,  with  the  pious  custom  of 
the  time,  a  "  Sessions  Sermon^'  was  preached  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  16th,  before  the  opening  of  the  Court,  by  the 
Rev.  Nicholas  Bedgegood,  Pastor  of  the  Welch  Neck 
Church.  The  duties  and  responsibilities  of  those  in 
authority,  as  well  as  of  the  subjects  of  the  state  of  every 
degree,  were  doubtless  enforced,  and  the  thoughts  of  all 
alike  directed  to  a  judgment  in  the  end  of  the  world,  from 
which  there  is  to  be  no  appeal. 

The  Presentments  of  the  Grand  Jury  for  Cheraws  Dis- 
trict, made  on  Monday  the  16th,  were   ordered  to   be  pub- 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  197 

lished  in  the  general  Gazette  of  the  Province,  and  were  as 
follows  : — 

"  I.  "We  present,  as  a  gr'icvance;  the  want  of  a  Law  to 
cleanse  the  River  of  the  great  number  of  trees  and  logs 
which  interrupt  the  na%agation. 

"  II.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  Bridge 
over  Thompson's  Creek,  near  Yorkshire  Mills ;  and  another 
over  Black  Creek,  a  small  distance  above  the  Ferry,  known 
by  the  name  of  Douglass  Ferry. 

"  III.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  Free- 
school  in  the  District, 

"  IV.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  that  neither  the  Laws 
of  this  Province,  nor  the  Statutes  of  Great  Britain,  now  in 
force,  are  printed  or  published  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be 
procured  by  the  inhabitants  of  this  District. 

"  Y.  V^e  present  Edward  Williams,  late  a  constable,  for 
suffering  Ealph  Sutton,  charged  with  Felony,  and  John 
Williams,  the  Prosecutor,  to  escape  from  him, — by  the  infor- 
mation of  Col.  Charles  Augustus  Steward. 

"  Charles  A.  Steward,  Foreman.      L.S. 

Abel  Edwards.  L.S. 

Thomas  Edwards.  L.S. 

Henry  William  Harrington.         L.S. 

Robert  Blair.  L.S. 

William  Godfrey.  L.S. 

Richard  Carter.  L.S. 

Samuel  Chandler.  L.S. 

Peter  Kolb.  L.S. 

John  Hodges.  L.S. 

William  Dewitt.  L.S. 

George  Hicks.  L.S. 

Benjamin  Rogers.  L.S. 

Arthur  Hart.  L.S. 

Thomas  Evans.  L.S. 

Robert  Clary.  L.S. 

William  Pegnes.  L.S. 

John  Perkins.  L.S.'^ 

The  attention  given  by  the  Grand  Jury  on  this  occasion 
to  the  important  subjects  of  internal  improvements,  Educa- 


198  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

tion^  and  tlie  Publication  of  the  Laws  of  the  Province,  was 
timely.  They  were  matters  of  serious  regard,  and  failed 
not  afterward  to  be  brought  to  public  notice  as  occasion 
demanded.  In  the  Gazette  of  15th  December  following 
this  account  appeared,  viz.  :  "  At  Cheraws  seven  Bills  were 
given  out,  and  four  found.  Jacob  Tilley,  convicted  of 
Horse-stealing,  was  sentenced  to  receive  thirty-nine  lashes, 
and  to  have  his  right  ear  cut  oif ;  Randall  Johnson,  con- 
victed of  Larceny,  was  burnt  in  the  hand.^^ 

On  the  approach  of  the  April  Assizes,  1773,  Justices 
Savage  and  Fewtrell  chose  the  Northern  Circuit.  The 
Court  opened  for  Cheraws,  April  15th.  The  Presentments 
of  the  Grand  Jury,  ordered  to  be  printed,  were  as  follows  : — 

''  I.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  Law  for 
cleansing  Pedee  River. 

''  II.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  Bridge 
over  Thompson's  Creek,"^  and  also  over  Black  Creek,  on  the 
road  between  the  Cheraws  and  George-town. 

"  III.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  Free- 
school  in  the  District. 

"  IV.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  general  neglect  of" 
the  Militia  and  Patrol  Acts,  and  recommend  that  they  may 
be  amended. 

"  V.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  Vagrant 
Act,  the  District  being  infested  with  many  idle  and  disor- 
derly persons,  who  having  no  visible  means  of  subsistence, 
either  plunder  the  industrious  inhabitants,  or  become 
chargeable  to  the  Parish. 

"  VI.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  Chapel 
of  Ease  in  the  lower  part  of  the  District. 

''  VII.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  that  the  lines  of  the 
District  are  not  now  ascertained. 

"  VIII.  We  recommend  that  a  Law  be  passed,  obliging 
Persons  not  resident  in  the  Province,  or  their  agents,  to 
give  security,  upon  commencing  any  Suit  in  the  Courts 
of  Common  Law,  to  pay  the  costs  thereof,  if  a  verdict 
shall  pass  for  the  defendant ;   and  also  obliging  Prosecutors, 


*  This  was  doubtless  at  the  point  referred  to  in  the  former  Presentment  as 
near  Yorkshire  Mills ;  and  was  on  the  road  from  Cheraw  to  Long  Blufl". 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  199 

on  behalf  of  the  Crown,  for  misdemeanor,  to  pay  the 
costs  where  the  defendant  sliall  be  acquitted,  or  not  prose- 
cuted to  trial. 

"  IX.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  that  witnesses  attend- 
ing the  Sessions  on  behalf  of  the  Crown  are  not  allowed 
their  expences. 

"  X.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  that  neither  the  Laws  of 
this  Province,  nor  the  Statutes  of  Great  Britain,  made  of 
force  therein,  are  printed  or  published. 

"  XI.  We  present  Edward  Jones,  Constable,  for  a  wilful 
neglect  of  his  duty,  on  the  information  of  Unity  Hunter. 

"  XII.  We  present  Joseph  Gourly,  Esq.,  one  of  the 
Justices  for  the  District,  as  a  common  drunkard,  a  pro- 
fane swearer,  and  disturber  of  the  peace,  on  the  infor- 
mation of  Robert  Dowling. 

"  XIII.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  wall 
to  enclose  the  Gaol  and  the  yard  round  the  same,  it  being 
at  present  entirely  open,  by  which  means,  persons  from 
without  can  reach  instruments  to  the  prisoners  within,  to 
facilitate  their  escape ;  and  also  the  want  of  a  well  for  the 
use  of  the  same. 

Alexander  Mackintosh,  Foreman.      L.S. 

Claudius  Pegnes.  L.S. 

William  Johnston.  L.S. 

Samuel  Wise.  L.S. 

Thomas  Lide.  L.S. 

Thomas  James.  L.S. 

Robert  Lide.  L.S. 

John  Kimbrough.  L.S. 

Martin  Kolb.  L.S- 

John  Mikell.  L.S. 

Thomas  Burton.  L.S. 

Thomas  Ayer.  L.S. 

John  Hewstess.  L.S, 

Malachi  INIurfee.  L.S. 

William  Dewitt.  L.S. 

Thomas  Ellerbe.  L.S. 

Martin  Dewitt.  L.S. 

John  Hitchcock.  L.S. 

John  Wilds.  L.S. 


200  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Aaron  Daniel.  L.S. 

Magnus  Corgill.  L.S. 

Abel  Wilds.  L.S." 

The  effect  upon  the  minds  of  the  people  of  having  Courts 
of  their  own,  holden  among  tliem,  was  now  becoming  ap- 
parent. Respect  for  the  constituted  authorities  of  the 
Pro\ince  was  partially  restored,  and  the  majesty  of  the  law 
vindicated. 

Secure  in  the  feeling  that  the  guilty  would  not  go  un- 
punished, attention  Avas  naturally  turned  to  those  important 
subjects  connected  with  the  general  welfare  and  progress  of 
society,  and  hence  the  several  matters  brought  to  public 
notice  by  the  Grand  Juries,  both  for  Legislative  action,  and 
district  regulation  and  control. 

It  is  somewhat  singular,  as  appears  from  Presentment 
fourth,  that  after  such  recent  disturbances  and  in  so  un- 
settled a  state  of  the  country,  there  should  have  been  a 
general  neglect  in  enforcing  the  Militia  and  Patrol  Acts. 
It  was  doubtless  attributable  in  part  to  the  sparsity  of  the. 
population,  as  Avell  as  to  the  difficulty  ever  existing  in  the 
early  stages  of  society,  of  securing  thoroughly  organized 
and  constant  effort  for  the  removal  of  public  evils,  or  the 
enforcement  of  the  laws  of  the  land.  A  Vagrant  Act  was 
now  imperatively  demanded.  The  public  expression  by  a 
Grand  Jury  of  the  want  of  a  Chaj)el  of  Ease  (as  it  was 
called  in  the  language  of  the  time,  being  an  adjunct  of  the 
parish  church),  was  a  happy  omen  for  the  religious  senti- 
ment and  public  opinion  of  the  day.  The  country  was 
very  scantily  supplied  with  religious  services,  and  the  want 
of  additional  facilities  for  public  worship  was  sorely  felt. 
In  this  connexion,  the  presentment  of  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  as  a  drunkard  and  profane  swearer,  is  worthy  of 
notice,  and  is  an  example  which  their  posterity  might  well 
follow  more  sedulously  than  they  do,  as  to  the  high  standard 
of  character  w^hich  ought  ever  to  be  required  in  those  who 
aspire  to  offices  of  public  trust.  The  functions  of  a  Grand 
Jury,  as  the  high  inquest  of  the  State,  and  as  here  faithfully 
discharged,  have  been  too  much  ignored  in  later  times.  To 
such   a  body    the  most   solemn    trust  is   committed ;    and 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIKRAWS.  201 

boldly  brought  to  bear  upon  society,  its  influence  would 
1)e  largely  felt.  The  conduct  of  the  Grand  Juries  of  the 
Chcraws  District  in  the  early  days  of  its  history  is  worthy 
of  perpetual  remembrance. 

At  the  November  Terra,  1773,  Chief  Justice  Gordon  and 
Justice  Savage  presided.  Up  to  this  time,  the  name  of 
Thomas  Turner  appears  as  Clerk  for  Cheraw  District,  and 
James  Johnston  deputy-Clerk.  The  latter  place  was  filled 
on  this  occasion  by  lleury  Wm.  Harrington. 

The  Presentments  of  the  Grand  Jury  were  as  fol- 
lows : — 

"  I.  Y^e  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  Vagrant 
Act  in  this  Province,  this  District  in  particular  being  in- 
fested with  man}'  Vagrants,  who  do  great  damage,  particu- 
larly by  fire  hunting. 

"  II.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  that  the  division  line 
lately  run  between  this  District  and  the  District  of  George- 
town, does  not  extend  lower  down  Pedee  River  than  sixteen 
or  seventeen  miles  from  the  Court  House  :  which,  we 
humbly  apprehend,  was  not  originally  intended  in  the 
division  of  the  Districts  in  this  Province,  and  therefore  do 
recommend  that  this  matter  be  taken  into  consideration  by 
the  Legislature. 

"  III.  We  present,  as  a  veiy  great  grievance,  the  want  of 
a  Free  School  in  this  District. 

"  IV.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  Avant  of  a  LaAV  for 
cleansing  Pedee  River,  its  navigation  at  present  being  very 
unsafe. 

''  Y.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  Bridge 
over  Thompson's  Creek,  near  Col.  Steward's  Mill,  and  another 
over  Black  Creek,  near  the  present  Ferry. 

"  VI.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  present  insufficiency 
of  the  Gaol  of  this  District,  by  which  persons  confined 
therein  are  enabled  to  make  their  escape  ;  and  we  do  recom- 
mend that  it  be  surrounded  by  a  sufficient  wall,  at  a  con- 
venient distance  therefrom,  to  prevent  the  confederates  of 
the  Pi-isoners  from  furnishing  them  with  implements  for 
breaking  the  same. 

"  VII.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  new 
Jury  list  in  this  District. 


202 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHE  RAWS. 


"  We  recommend  that  these   our  Presentments 

be    pu^ 

lished  in  the  several  Gazettes  of  this  Province. 

"  John  Kimbrongh,  Foreman. 

L.S. 

George  Hicks. 

L.S. 

Wilham  Pegnes. 

L.S. 

Malachi  Mnrfee,  Sen. 

L.S. 

Robert  Lide. 

L.S. 

Thomas  Ayer. 

L.S. 

John  Hodge. 

L.S. 

Abel  Wilds. 

L.S. 

Thomas  Ellerbe. 

L.S. 

Joshua  Hickman. 

L.S. 

Robert  Blair. 

L.S. 

Arthur  Hart. 

L.S. 

William  Godfrey. 

L.S. 

Alexander  Mackintosh. 

L.S. 

Martin  Dewitt. 

L.S. 

Robert  Clary. 

L.S. 

Elias  DuBose. 

L.S. 

John  Mikell. 

L.S. 

James  Kelly. 

L.S. 

Thomas  James. 

L.S.^ 

On  21st  December,  the  following  notice  appeared  in  the 
Gazette,  viz.  :  "  At  Cheraws,  twelve  bills  of  Indictment 
were  given  out,  of  which  nine  were  found.  Samuel  Winds, 
convicted  of  Horse-stealing,  was  sentenced  to  lose  his  right 
ear,  and  be  publickly  whipt.  John  Odom,  Sen.,  Alexander 
Purvis,  and  James  Wright,  convicted  of  Petit  Larceny, 
were  sentenced  to  be  whipt.  William  Lewis,  alias  John 
Macallister,  found  guilty  of  Forgery,  was  sentenced  to 
stand  in  the  Pillory,  and  be  publickly  whipt.  Samuel 
Winds,  Alexander  Purvis,  and  James  Wright  have  been 
pardoned  by  his  Honor,  the  Lieutenant-Governor.^^ 

Notwithstanding  the  urgent  recommendations  of  the 
Grand  Juries  from  time  to  time,  nothing  was  done  by  the 
Legislature  to  improve  the  navigation  of  the  river.  The 
matter  was  not  acted  upon  until  some  years  subsequent  to 
the  Revolution.      Nor  were  any  steps  taken  for  the  estab- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  203 

lishment  of  Free  Schools.  Difficult  as  it  lias  been  since  to 
make  any  adequate  proWsion  of  the  kind,  the  difficulty  was 
mucli  greater  then  in  consequence  of  the  low  state  of  the 
public  funds  and  the  sparseness  of  the  population. 

On  Friday,  April  14th,  1774,  the  following  Presentments 
were  made  by  the  Grand  Jury  of  CheraAvs,  and  ordered  to 
be  published,  viz.  : — 

"  I.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  new  Jury 
list. 

"  II.  We  present  the  Commissioners  appointed  for  build- 
ing the  parish  church  of  St.  David,  for  not  having  it  com- 
pleted in  proper  time,  the  money  having  been  granted  by 
the  Commons  House  of  Assembly  near  four  years,  for 
that  purpose, — by  the  information  of  Charles  Augustus 
Steward,  Esq. 

'^  Alexander  Mcintosh,  Foreman.      L.S. 

John  Hodges,  L.S. 

William  Hardwick.  L.S. 

Wm.  Henry  Harrington.  L.S. 

Malachi  Murfee  L.S. 

Joshua  Hickman.  L.S. 

Thomas  James.  L.S. 

John  Wilds.  L.S. 

Robert  Clary.  L.S. 

Robert  Blair.  L.S. 

Abel  Wilds.  L.S. 

Thomas  Ayer.  L.S. 

Moses  Speight.  L.S. 

Robert  Lide.  L.S. 

William  Godfrey  L.S. 

Martin  Dewitt.  L.S. 

William  Pegnes.  L.S. 

Elias  DuBose.  L.S. 

Martin  Kolb.  L.S. 

Alexander  Gordon.  L.S." 

Calvin  Spencer  was  deputy  Clerk  at  this  term  of  the 
Court. 

The  parish  church  had  been  used  in  December,  1772,  as 


204  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

already  stated,  tliough  doiibtless  iu  an  uufiuished  state,  as 
this  Presentment  wonid  indicate.  Of  the  early  history  of 
the  Bar  of  the  Old  Cheraws  very  little  is  known. 

Of  its  learned  arguments,  its  eloquent  appeals,  and  bril- 
liant conflicts,  no  tradition  even  remains.  Up  to  this  time 
and  for  years  subsequent,  there  was  no  resident  lawyer  in  the 
District.  Colonel  Powell  was  doubtless  a  regular  attendant 
and  leading  advocate  there  from  the  first,  as  were  some  of 
the  eminent  members  of  the  Bar  of  Charles-town,  with 
Judges  Waties  and  Brevard,  before  their  promotion  to  the 
Bench. 

The  records  which  remain  are  silent  on  the  subject,  and 
no  tongue  is  left  to  tell  of  the  stirring  scenes  which  were 
enacted  there.  For  many  years  past  every  material  vestige, 
except  a  few  scattered  bricks,  has  disappeared. 

The  plough,  for  more  than  a  generation,  has  made  deep 
furroAvs  over  the  ground  on  Avhich  the  old  Court  House 
stood.  We  can  only  wander  back  in  imagination  to  its 
earlier  days,  and  sadly  muse  on  the  past. 

Another  chapter  will  open,  and  burning  words  come 
back — the  opening  chapter  of  the  manly  declaration  of  their 
rights  and  of  their  country's  wrongs,  by  the  sturdy  patriots 
of  the  Old  Cheraws. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  205 


CHAPTER  X. 

A  general  Congress  of  the  colonics  proposed — Scene  tlicreupon  in  Assembly  of 
South  Carolina — Action  of  the  Assembly — South  Carolina  takes  the  lead — 
Repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act — Declaratory  Act — Claim  of  taxing:  tl'c  colonies 
asserted — East  India  Company  imports  tea — Course  of  South  Carolina — 
Cargo  restrained  from  sale — Course  of  other  colonies — Town  meetings  called 
— Circular  letter  from  Massachusetts — Arrival  of  it  in  Charles-town — Ex- 
citement— Circular  letters  sent  through  the  Province — General  meeting  in 
Cliarles-town — St.  David's  represented — Action  of  meeting — Provincial 
Congress  called — Deputies  from  St.  David's^Action  of  the  Congress — 
November  courts — William  Henry  Drayton  appointed  judge — Account  of 
him  and  his  appointment — Presides  at  Long  Bluff — His  charge  to  the 
grand  jury — Address  of  petit  jury  in  reply — Presentments  of  the  grand 
jury — Reflections — Account  of  Judge  Drayton^Subsccpient  career  and 
death — Action  of  general  meeting  in  Charles-town  as  to  the  poor  of  Boston 
— Province  sends  relief — Subscription  in  St.  David's  parish — Reflections — 
Close  of  year  1174: — Concluding  remarks. 

As  early  as  1765,  tlie  passage  of  the  memorable  Stamp  Act 
by  the  British  Parliament  roused  the  American  Colonists 
generally  to  opposition.  To  make  this  feeliug  effective,  it 
Avas  necessary  that  some  common  plan  of  co-operation  should 
be  adopted.  Among  other  propositions  offered  to  secure 
such  a  uniform  line  of  conduct  in  the  several  colonieSj  was 
that  of  a  general  Congress  of  Deputies  to  be  elected  from 
each.  AYhen  this  measure  was  first  proposed  in  the  Assembly 
of  South  Carolina^  there  were  not  wanting,  as  in  all  revo- 
lutions, those  who  were  disposed  to  frown  it  down.  It  was 
ridiculed  by  a  humorous  member,  on  that  occasion,  in  words 
to  the  following  effect,  viz. :  "  If  you  agree  to  the  proposi- 
tion of  composing  a  Congress  of  Deputies  from  the  different 
British  Colonies,  what  sort  of  a  dish  will  you  make  ?  New 
England  Avill  throw  in  fish  and  onions.  The  INIiddle  States, 
flax-seed  and  flour.  ISIaryland  and  Virginia  will  add  to- 
bacco. North  Carolina,  pitch,  tar,  and  turpentine.  South 
Carolina,  rice  and  indigo ;  and  Georgia  will  sprinkle  the 
whole  composition  with  saw-dust.  Such  an  absurd  jumble 
will  you  make,  if  you  attempt  to  form  an  union  among  such 
discordant  materials  as  the  thirteen  British  Provinces.''    To 


206  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

whiclij  a  shrewd  country  member  replied :  "  He  would  not 
choose  the  gentleman  who  made  the  objection  for  his  cook ; 
but;  nevertheless,  he  would  venture  to  assert,  that  if  the  Co- 
lonies proceeded  judiciously  in  the  appointment  of  Deputies 
to  a  Continental  Congress,  they  would  prepare  a  dish  fit  to 
be  presented  to  any  crowned  head  in  Europe.""^ 

This  reply  was  worthy  of  Carolina,  and  equal  to  the  occa- 
sion that  called  it  forth.  The  Commons  House  of  Assembly 
was  prepared  for  decided  action ;  and  having  passed  resolu- 
tions, strongly  affirming  their  rights  as  British  subjects,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  election  of  Deputies  to  the  Congress  which 
was  to  meet  the  following  October.  South  Carolina  was 
the  first  of  the  colonies,  out  of  New  England,  to  take  this 
step  towards  a  Continental  union.  The  effect  of  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Congress,  and  of  the  decided  stand  taken  by  the 
Colonies,  was  a  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act.  The  repeal  was 
accompanied,  however,  by  an  Act,  commonly  called  the  De- 
claratory Act,  which  affirmed,  "  that  the  Pai'liament  of  Great 
Britain  had  a  right  to  bind  the  colonies  in  all  cases  what- 
soever.^' In  pursuance  of  this  right,  thus  unconstitutionally 
claimed,  the  experiment  of  taxation  was  renewed  in  1767, 
though  more  artfully  than  before,  in  the  shape  of  small 
duties  on  glass,  paper,  tea,  painters'  colors,  &c.  Again  the 
Colonies  petitioned,  and  agreed,  moreover,  among  themselves, 
to  import  no  more  British  manufactures. 

The  Government,  alarmed  once  more  at  this  general  and 
decided  manifestation  of  the  spirit  of  intelligent  resistance 
and  revolt,  repealed  all  the  odious  duties  except  that  of 
threepence  a  pound  on  tea. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  East  India  Company,  in  order  to 
take  advantage  of  this  state  of  things,  adopted  the  scheme 
of  exporting  large  quantities  of  tea,  to  be  sold  on  their 
account  in  the  several  capitols  of  the  British  Colonies.  This 
increased  the  jealousy  of  the  Colonies,  and  made  them  more 
determined  than  before  to  resist  the  encroachment  on  their 
rights.  Accordingly,  combinations  were  entered  into  to 
obstruct  the  sales  of  tea  thus  sent   out   by  the   East  India 


Ramsay's  "  Revolution  in  So.  Ca."  vol.  i.  p.  13. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  207 

Company.  A  cargo  sent  to  South  Carolina  was  stored,  the 
consignees  being  restrained  from  exposing  it  to  sale.  In 
other  colonies  similar  measures  were  adopted.  In  Boston 
a  few  men  in  disguise  threw  overboard  340  chests  of  tea, 
the  proportion  sent  by  the  East  India  Company  to  that 
Province.  This  led  to  a  retaliatory  Act  by  Parliament, 
blocking  up  the  Port  of  Boston,  and  was  followed  by  other 
Acts  of  a  similar  kind.  One  of  these  was  called  an  "  Act 
for  the  better  regulating  the  Government  of  Massachusetts,^^ 
the  effect  of  which  was  to  alter  essentially  the  Charter  of 
tliat  Province,  taking  the  executive  control  out  of  the  hands 
of  the  people,  and  vesting  it  in  the  King  or  his  Governor. 
Other  abuses  of  the  most  offensive  and  alarming  character 
speedily  followed. 

The  colonists  generally  took  the  alarm.  The  inhabitants 
of  Boston  were  thrown  into  the  utmost  consternation. 
Town-meetings  were  called;  and  at  one  of  them,  May  13tli, 
1774,  a  resolution  was  passed,  calling  n.pon  the  other  Colo- 
nies in  the  most  earnest  manner  to  put  a  stop  at  once  to 
all  importations  from  Great  Britain  and  the  West  Indies 
until  the  Act  for  blocking  up  Boston  Harbor  should  be  re- 
pealed, or  else  there  would  be  reason  to  fear  "  that  fraud, 
power,  and  the  most  odious  oppressions  would  rise  trium- 
phant over  justice,  right,  social  happiness,  and  freedom. ^^ 
A  copy  of  this  vote  was  immediately  forwarded  to  the  other 
Colonies.  On  its  aiTival  in  Charles-town,  intense  feeling 
was  excited ;  and  in  order  that  it  might  be  submitted  to 
the  general  voice  of  the  people,  some  of  the  principal 
gentlemen  of  the  town  caused  circular  letters  to  be  sent 
out  by  express,  to  every  Paiish  and  District  in  the  Province, 
calling  a  general  meeting  of  the  inhabitants.  The  sum- 
mons was  urgent,  and  met  with  a  hearty  response. 

Everywhere  the  people  assembled,  and  appointed  Depu- 
ties to  meet  in  Charles-town  on  the  6th  of  July  ensuing. 
When  that  day  arrived,  "  Charles-town  was  filled  with  per- 
sons from  the  country.  One  hundred  and  four  Deputies 
I'cpresented  all  parts  of  the  Province,  except  Greenville 
County,  St,  John^s,  Colleton,  and  Christ  Church  Parish, 
which  were  without  delegations.    In  behalf  of  Charles-town, 


208  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

the  General  Committee  appeared/^'^  Col.  George  Gabriel 
Powell  was  one  of  the  Deputies  from  St.  DavicFs  Parish, 
and  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  proceedings  of  the 
meeting. 

Of  the  names  of  the  other  deputies  from  this  Parish  no 
record  remains.  No  complete  list,  indeed,  of  all  those  in 
attendance,  appears  in  the  published  accounts  of  the  time. 

The  meeting  was  held  under  the  Exchange,  July  6th, 
and  a  crowded  assemblage  it  was. 

At  9  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Col.  Powell  took  the  chair ; 
and  it  was  carried,  ''  that  votes  should  be  given  by  each 
porson  present,  and  not  by  Parishes" — and  also,  "  that  who- 
ever came  there  might  give  his  vote.'''  The  business  of  the 
day  then  opened  with  the  reading  of  the  communication 
from  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts.  Afterwards  resolutions 
were  considered,  touching  American  rights  and  grievances. 
A  resolution  was  passed,  providing  for  the  safety  and  wel- 
fare of  the  Province,  by  the  appointment  of  a  Committee 
of  ninety-nine  persons,  to  act  as  a  General  Committee,  to 
correspond  with  the  Committees  of  the  other  Colonies,  and 
to  do  all  matters  and  things  necessary  to  carry  these  reso- 
lutions into  execution  ;  and  that  any  twenty-one  of  them, 
met  together,  may  proceed  in  business,  their  power  to  con- 
tinue till  the  next  general  meeting.^'t 

The  General  Committee  was  accordingly  appointed  by 
the  meeting,  and  consisted  of  fifteen  merchants  and  fifteen 
mechanics  to  represent  Charles-town;  and  sixty-nine  planters 
to  represent  the  other  parts  of  the  Province.  J' 

This  proceeding,thoughnot  strictly  authorized  by  the  people 
in  the  action  taken  at  their  primary  meetings,  was  acquiesced 
in,  as  being  demanded  by  the  extraordinary  circumstances 
of  the  time,  and  manifestly  intended  for  the  public  good. 

After  a  session  of  three  days  the  meeting  adjourned. 
Thus  matters  went  on,  the  members  of  the  General  Com- 
mittee attending  to  their  several  duties  throughout  the 
Province.  In  the  fall,  it  was  determined  by  the  Com- 
mittee to  convene  a  Provincial  Congress,  by  the  election  of 


*  Drayton's  "  Memoirs,"  p.  126. 

•j-  Ramsay's  "  Revolution  in  So.  Ca."  vol.  i.  p.  22. 

X  Drayton's  "  Memoirs,"  vol.  i.  p.  131. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  209 

Representatives  from  every  District  and  Parisli  in  the 
Province,  to  meet  in  Charles-town  early  in  the  ensuing 
year.  The  designs  of  the  British  Government,  in  the 
meantime,  had  been  more  fully  developed,  and  the  neces- 
sity for  increased  energy  and  more  perfect  union  among 
the  colonists  was  most  apparent. 

By  means  of  the  Congress  of  delegates  it  was  thought 
the  public  arm  avouUI  be  strengthened,  and  the  sentiments 
of  the  people  better  known  and  more  (irmly  established. 
For  this  purpose,  on  the  9th  of  November,  the  Committee 
issued  Resolutions,  providing  for  the  general  election  of 
Deputies  throughout  the  Province,  by  appointing  the  time, 
describing  the  Districts  and  Provinces,  and  fixing  the  num- 
ber of  Representatives  for  each.  As  before,  in  fixing  ths 
ratio  of  the  General  Committee,  thirty  were  allowed  for 
Charles-town,  ten  to  each  of  the  four  large  Districts  of 
Ninety-six,  of  those  between  the  Broad  and  'Saluda,  the 
Broad  and  Catawba  rivers,  and  that  eastward  of  the 
Wateree  ;  and  six  Representatives  to  each  of  the  Parishes, 
— making  in  all  one  hundred  and  eighty-four,  nearly  four 
times  as  many  as  constituted  the  Commons  House  of 
Assembly. 

The  Resolutions  required  the  Representatives  elected  to 
assemble  in  Charles-town  on  the  11th  of  January,  1775  ; 
and  also  set  forth  the  objects  of  the  meeting,  viz.,  to  receive 
an  account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  late  Continental  Con- 
gress, to  elect  delegates  for  another  Congress,  to  be  held  in 
the  ensuing  May,  to  elect  a  new  General  Committee,  and 
to  establish  such  regulations  as  the  exigences  of  the  times 
might  render  necessary. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  from  St.  David's 
Parish,  viz.,  Honorable  George  Gabriel  Powell,  Claudius 
Pegues,  Henry  Wm.  Harrington,  Alexander  M'Intosh, 
Samuel  Wise,  Esq.,  and  Col.  George  Pawlcy. 

In  the  meantime,  the  people  on  the  Pedec,  fully  alive 
to  the  critical  state  of  affairs  and  prepared  for  every  emer- 
gency, had  spoken  in  language  of  no  doubtful  import  on 
those  exciting  topics  which  now  agitated  the  public  mind. 
The  November  Courts  [1774!)  having  come  on,  the  Plonor- 
able  Wm.  Henry  Drayton,  one  of  his  IMajesty's  Assistaut- 

p 


^10  HISTORY    or    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Judges^  and  Mr.  Justice  Fewtrell,  took  the  Nortliern  Cir- 
cuity embracing  the  Districts  of  Camden,  Clieraws,  and 
George-town.  Of  all  the  public  men  of  the  Province  at 
that  time,  no  one  was  better  qualified,  in  every  respect,  than 
Judge  Drayton,  to  stir  up  the  minds  of  the  people  and  keep 
alive  in  them  the  spirit  of  liberty. 

He  had  been  appointed  to  the  Bench  the  previous  winter 
in  the  place  of  Mr.  Justice  Murray,  deceased.  Prior  to 
this  time  the  Bench  seems  to  have  been  filled  with  Assistant- 
Judges  of  independence  and  property  in  the  Colony,  who 
served  the  public  in  that  capacity  without  fee  or  reward. 
Upon  the  death  of  Justice  Murray,  his  Majesty's  Council 
found  some  difficulty  in  getting  a  gentleman  of  proper  mark 
and  character  to  take  his  place,  in  consequence  of  the 
inadequate  inducement,  and  the  probability,  moreover,  that 
the  appointee  would  be  superseded  by  a  Barrister  sent  from 
England.  The  case  seemed  difficult  to  the  Council,  yet  a 
Judge  must  of  necessity  be  appointed.  After  some  time 
spent  in  agitating  the  subject,  Mr.  Drayton  (being  one  of 
the  Council)  offered  his  services  until  some  one  should  be 
selected  by  the  King ;  which  public-spirited  behaviour  was 
very  readily  and  unanimously  approved  by  the  Lieut. - 
Governor  and  Council.  This  was  in  January,  1774.  Not 
long  after  a  Pamphlet  appeared,  under  the  signature  of 
"  Freeman,"  stating  the  grievances  of  America,  and  present- 
ing a  bill  of  American  rights.  It  was  addressed  to  the 
Congress  at  Philadelphia,  and  excited  general  attention. 
Being  understood  to  have  come  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Dray- 
ton, it  gave  great  offence  to  the  Royal  officers  and  friends 
of  the  Crown. 

Some  strictures  were  also  made  in  it,  respecting  the 
writs  of  assistance  to  the  Customs,  granted  by  the  Judges. 
These  last  fancied  the  thrust  was  aimed  at  them. 

Whereupon,  the  Chief  Justice,  Thomas  Knox  Gordon,  and 
one  of  the  Assistant- Judges,  Charles  Matthew  Cosslet,  pre- 
sented a  remonstrance  to  the  Lieut. -Govr.,  complaining  of 
the  publication  of  "  Freeman,^''  charging  it  to  Mr.  Drayton, 
and  submitting,  whether  such  a  person  was  fit  to  hold  the 
office  of  Assistant- Judge.  To  this  Judge  Drayton  replied, 
and  before  the  dispute  was  settled^  the  November  Circuits 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEKAWS.  211 

came  on.  Judge  Drayton  had  scarcely  left  Charles-town 
when  Mr.  Gregory  arrived  from  England  to  take  his  place 
on  the  Bench.*  It  would  have  been  a  signal  gain  for  the 
Crown^  and  as  great  a  loss  to  the  cause  of  Independence,  if 
the  last  circuit  of  this  illustrious  patriot  had  been  pre- 
stallcd. 

He  appeared  at  Long  Bluff  upon  the  opening  of  the 
Court,  on  Tuesday,  November  15th,  and  delivered  the  fol- 
lowing charge : — 

"  Gentlemen  of  the  Grand  Jury, 

"  You  are  now  met  to 
discharge  one  of  the  most  important  duties  in  society,  for 
you  are  assembled  arbiters  of  the  innocence  or  guilt  of  those 
of  your  fellow-citizens  who  are  so  unfortunate  as  to  have 
afforded  occasion,  how^ever  slight,  for  the  laws  to  take  cog- 
nizance of  then*  conduct. 

"  You  are  authorized  to  pass  judgment,  in  the  first 
instance,  upon  the  apparently  guilty  wa-etch,  and  by  your 
acquitting  voice,  to  shield  apparent  innocence  fi^om  a  mali- 
cious prosecution.  Such  powers  have  the  constitution  of 
your  country  vested  in  you ;  powers  no  less  important  than 
truly  honorable,  when  exercised  with  a  fearless  integrity. 

"  It  is  yonr  indispensable  duty  to  endeavour  to  exercise 
those  powers  with  propriety ;  it  is  mine,  concisely  to  point 
out  to  you  the  line  of  your  conduct — a  conduct,  which  the 
venerable  constitution  of  your  country  intends,  by  protect- 
ing the  innocent  and  by  delivering  the  guilty  over  to  the 
course  of  law,  should  operate  to  nourish,  in  its  native  vigour, 
even  that  constitution  itself,  from  whose  generous  spirit  we 
have  a  title  to  call  ourselves  free-men,  an  appellation  which 
peculiarly  distinguishes  the  English  subject  (those  imfortu- 
nately  disappointed  fellow-citizens  in  Quebec  excepted),  and 
ranks  them  above  all  the  civilized  nations  of  the  earth. 
By  as  much  as  you  prefer  freedom  to  slavery,  by  so  much 
ought  you  to  prefer  a  generous  death  to  servitude,  and  to 
hazard  everything  to  endeavour  to  maintain  that  rank  which 
is  so  gloriously  i^re-emiuent   above  all  other  nations.      You 


*  Drayton's  "Memoirs,"  vol.  i.  pp.  151-161. 

p  2 


212  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

ought  to  endeavour  to  preserve  it,  not  only  for  its  inesti- 
mable value,  but  from  a  reverence  to  our  ancestry  from  wliom 
we  received  it,  and  from  a  love  of  our  children,  to  whom 
we  are  bound,  by  every  consideration,  to  deliver  down  this 
legacy,  the  most  valuable  that  ever  was  or  ever  can  be 
delivered  to  posterity.  It  is  compounded  of  the  most 
generous  civil  liberty  that  ever  existed,  and  the  sacred 
Christian  Religion,  released  from  the  absurdities  which  are 
inculcated,  the  shackles  which  are  imposed,  the  tortures 
Avhich  are  inflicted,  and  the  flames  which  are  lighted,  blown 
up  and  fed  with  blood,  by  the  Roman  Catholic  doctrines, 
which  tend  to  establish  a  most  cruel  tyranny  in  Church  and 
State — a  tyranny  under  which  all  Europe  groaned  for  many 
ages. 

"  And  such  are  the  distinguishing  characters  of  this  legacy, 
which  may  God,  of  His  infinite  goodness  and  mercy,  long 
preserve  to  us,  and  graciously  continue  to  our  posterity  ; 
but,  without  our  pious  and  unwearied  endeavours  to  preserve 
these  blessings,  it  is  folly  and  presumption  to  hope  for  a 
continuance  of  them ;  hence,  in  order  to  stimulate  your  exer- 
tions in  favour  of  your  civil  liberties,  which  protect  your 
religious  rights,  instead  of  discoursing  to  you  of  the  laws 
of  other  States,  and  comparing  them  to  our  own,  allow  me 
to  tell  you  what  your  civil  liberties  are,  and  to  charge  you, 
which  I  do  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  to  hold  them  dearer 
than  your  lives ;  a  lesson  and  charge  at  all  times  proper 
from  a  Judge,  but  particularly  so  at  this  crisis,  when 
America  is  in  one  general  and  generous  commotion  touching 
this  truly  important  point.  It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to 
draw  any  other  character  of  those  liberties,  than  that  great 
line  by  which  they  are  distinguished ;  and  happy  is  it  for 
the  subject,  that  those  liberties  can  be  marked  in  so  easy 
and  in  so  distinguishing  a  manner.  And  this  is  the  distin- 
guishing character  :  English  people  cannot  be  taxed,  nay, 
they  cannot  be  bound  by  any  law,  unless  by  their  consent, 
expressed  by  themselves,  or  their  Representatives  of  their 
own  election.  This  Colony  was  settled  by  English  subjects  ; 
by  a  people  from  England  herself;  a  people  who  brought 
over  with  them,  who  planted  in  this  Colony,  and  who  trans- 
mitted to  posterity  the  invaluable   rights    of  Englishmen — 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  213 

rights  which  no  time,  no  contract,  no  climate,  can  diminish. 
Thus,  possessed  of  such  rights,  it  is  of  the  most  serious 
importance  that  you  strictly  execute  those  regulations  Avhich 
have  arisen  from  such  a  parentage,  and  to  which  you  have 
given  the  authority  of  laws,  by  having  given  your  constitu- 
tional consent  that  they  should  operate  as  laws  ;  for  by  your 
not  executing  what  those  laws  require,  you  would  weaken 
the  force,  and  would  show,  I  may  almost  say,  a  treasonable 
contempt  of  those  constitutional  rights  out  of  which  your 
laws  arise,  and  which  you  ought  to  defend  and  support  at 
the  hazard  of  your  lives.  Hence,  by  all  the  ties  which 
mankind  hold  most  dear  and  sacred  ;  .your  reverence  to  your 
ancestors  ;  your  love  to  your  own  interests  ;  your  tenderness 
to  your  posterity  ;  by  the  lawful  obligations  of  your  oath  ; 
I  charge  you  to  do  your  duty;  to  maintain  the  laws,  the 
rights,  the  constitution  of  your  country,  even  at  the  hazaxxl 
of  your  lives  and  fortunes. 

"  Some  courtly  judges  style  themselves  the  king's  servants 
— a  style  which  sounds  harshly  in  my  ears,  inasmuch  as  the 
being  a  servant  implies  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the 
master ;  and  such  judges  might  possibly  think  that,  in  the 
present  situation  of  American  affairs,  this  charge  is  incon- 
sistent with  my  duty  to  the  king.  But,  for  my  part,  in  my 
judicial  character,  I  know  no  master  but  the  law  ;  I  am  a 
servant,  not  to  the  king,  but  to  the  constitution  ;  and,  in 
my  estimation,  I  shall  best  discharge  my  duty  as  a  good 
subject  to  the  king,  and  a  trusty  officer  under  the  constitu- 
tion, when  I  boldly  declare  the  law  to  the  people,  and  in- 
struct them  in  their  civil  rights. 

''  Indeed,  you,  gentlemen  of  the  Grand  Jury,  cannot  pro- 
perly comprehend  your  duty,  and  your  great  obligation  to 
perform  it,  unless  you  know  those  civil  rights  from  which 
these  duties  spring,  and  by  knowing  the  value  of  these 
rights,  thence  learn  your  obligation  to  perform  these 
duties. 

"  Having  thus  generally  touched  upon  the  nature  and  im- 
portance of  your  civil  rights,  in  order  to  excite  you  to 
execute  those  laws  to  which  they  have  given  birth,  I  will 
now  point  out  to  you  the  particular  duties  which  the  laws 
of  your  country  require  at  your  hands. 


214  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

"  Unbiassed  by  aifection  to^  and  unmoved  by  fear  of,  any 
man,  or  set  of  men,  you  are  to  make  presentment  of  every 
person,  and  of  every  proceeding  militating  against  the  public 
good.  The  law  orders  me  particularly  to  give  in  charge,  to 
watch  carefully  over  our  Negro  Act,  and  our  Jury  Law — a 
law  which  cannot  be  too  highly  valued,  whether  we  regard 
the  excellency  of  its  nature,  or  the  importance  of  its  object. 
This  law  carries  in  itself  an  indelible  mark  of  what  high 
importance  the  Legislature  thought  it,  when  they  enacted 
it ;  and  it  carries  in  itself,  also,  a  kind  of  prophecy,  that  its 
existence,  in  its  native  vigour,  would  in  after  times  be  en- 
dangered, and  therefore  it  is  that  the  law  orders  the  Judge 
ever  to  charge  the  Grand  Juries  to  watch  over  it  with  care  j 
indeed,  you  ought  to  do  so  with  the  most  zealous  circum- 
spection. A  learned  judge  says :  '  Every  new  tribunal 
erected  for  the  decision  of  facts,  without  the  intervention  of 
a  jury,  is  a  step  towards  aristocracy,  the  most  oppressive  of 
absolute  governments ;  and  it  is  therefore  a  duty  which 
every  man  owes  to  his  country,  his  friends,  to  posterity,  and 
himself,  to  maintain  to  the  utmost  of  his  power  this  valua- 
ble constitution  in  all  its  rights ;  to  restore  it  to  its  ancient 
dignity,  if  at  all  impaired ;  to  amend  it  wherever  it  is  de- 
fective ;  and,  above  all,  to  guard  with  the  most  zealous 
circumspection  against  the  introduction  of  new  and  arbitrary 
methods  of  trial,  which,  under  a  variety  of  plausible  pre- 
tences, may  in  time  imperceptibly  undermine  this  best 
preservative  of  English  liberty.^ 

"^  Mr.  Justice  Blackstone  terms  the  English  Trial  by  Jury, 
the  glory  of  the  English  law.  Let  me  tell  you,  our  trial 
by  jury  is  that  kind  of  glory  in  full  meridian  lustre,  in  com- 
parison of  which  the  English  mode  appears  only  with 
diminished  splendor.  But  let  not  your  care  of  this  great 
object  occupy  all  your  attention.  You  are  to  find  all  such 
Bills  of  indictment,  as  the  examination  of  witnesses  in  sup- 
port of  them,  may  induce  you  to  think  there  is  a  probability 
that  the  fact  charged  is  true  ;  for  you  are  not  to  exact  such 
circumstantial  and  positive  evidence  as  would  be  necessary 
to  support  the  indictment  before  a  Petit  Jury. 

"  To  make  these  Presentments,  and  to  find  these  Bills,  it 
is  not  necessary  that  you  all  agree  in  opinion,  twelve  united 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  215 

voices  among  yoii  are  sufficient  to  discharge  the  duties  of  a 
Grand  Jury ;  but  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  twelve  of 
you  agree  iu  opinion  upon  every  point  under  your  consider- 
ation ;  and  happy,  happy,  thrice  happy  are  that  people  who 
cannot  be  made  to  suffer  under  any  construction  of  the 
law,  but  by  the  united  voices  of  twenty-four  impartial  men, 
having  no  interest  in  the  cause,  but  that  the  laws  be  exe- 
cuted and  justice  administered.  In  short,  that  you  may 
discharge  your  duty  with  propriety,  and  that  you  may  pursue 
that  course  of  conduct  which  the  law  requires,  let  me,  in 
the  strongest  terms,  recommend  to  you,  that  you  keep  con- 
stantly in  your  mind  the  nature  and  particulars  of  the  oatk 
which  you  have  just  taken.  To  you,  this  oath  is  of  as  much 
importance  as  the  mariner's  compass  is  to  those  who  sail  on 
the  ocean ;  this  points  out  the  course  of  their  voyage ;  your 
oath  as  clearly  points  out  to  you  the  course  of  your  conduct. 
I  dare  say  you  are  willing  to  discharge  that  duty  which  you 
owe  to  society.  I  make  no  doubt  but  that  you  will  dis- 
charge it  with  advantage  to  the  public,  and  therefore  with 
honor  to  yourselves."* 

This  able  and  eloquent  vindication  of  their  rights,  and 
spirited  appeal  to  his  fellow-citizens,  both  as  Americans  and 
British  subjects,  appears  to  have  been  carefully  prepared  for 
the  occasion,  and  delivered  by  the  Judge  at  the  other 
Courts  on  the  Circuit,  It  was  a  most  critical  juncture  in 
the  aftairs  of  the  Colonies.  The  lines  were  being  drawn, 
and  the  people  were  ranging  themselves  on  one  side  or  the 
other,  for  the  rapidly  approaching  struggle.  And  then  it 
was,  that  no  more  timely  or  influential  voice  was  heard 
among  them  than  that  of  William  Henry  Drayton,  Whether 
here,  or  during  his  subsequent  mission,  with  Rev.  Mr. 
Tennent,  among  the  disaffected  in  the  Ninety- Six  District, — 
or  in  his  charges  afterwards  to  the  Grand  Juries  of  Charles- 
town,  as  Chief  Justice,  or  in  the  Continental  Congress — 
wherever  he  appeared,  the  same  thrilling  tones  were  heard 
in  behalf  of  liberty. 

The  Petit  Jury  were  so  much  roused   by   the  charge    on 


*  "  American  Archives,"  vol.  i.  pp.  95'J-U62 ;  also,  So,   Ca.   and  American 
General  Gazelle,  December  16-23,  1774, 


216  HISTORY   OF  THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

this  occasion  that  they  were  induced  to  present  (though  a 
most  unusual  course  for  such  a  body),  a  formal  address  in 
reply,  breathing  throughout  the  lofty  spirit  of  constitutional 
obligation  and  patriotic  devotion  to  liberty,  which  his  Honor 
had  impressed  upon  them.      It  was  in  these  words  : 

"  May  it  please  your  Honor, 

"  As  your  Charge  at  the 
opening  of  the  Sessions  contained  matters  of  the  highest 
importance  to  every  individual  in  this  Colony,  as  well  as  to 
the  Grand  Jury,  to  whom  in  particular  it  was  delivered,  we, 
the  Petit  Jury  for  the  District  of  Cheraw,  beg  leave  to 
testify  our  great  satisfaction,  and  to  return  your  Honor 
our  warmest  acknowledgments  for  so  constitutional  a 
charge  at  this  alarming  crisis,  when  our  liberties  are  at- 
tacked, and  our  properties  invaded  by  the  claim  and 
attempt  of  the  British  Parliament  to  tax  us,  and  by  their 
edicts  to  bind  us  in  all  cases  they  deem  proper;  a  claim  to 
which  we  will  never  submit,  and  an  attempt  which  we  are 
determined  to  oppose  at  the  hazard  of  our  lives  and  property  ; 
being  fully  convinced,  that  by  the  Constitution  of  this 
Country,  we  owe  obedience  to  no  human  laws  but  such  as 
are  enacted  with  the  consent  of  our  Representatives  in 
General  Assembly.  These  being  our  fixed  sentiments,  we 
take  this  opportunity  of  publicly  declaring  them  ;  and  we 
would  esteem  it  a  particular  favor  conferred  on  us,  if  your 
Honor  would  direct  your  Charge  to  be  printed,  that  the 
benefit  arising  from  it  may  be  as  diffusive  as  possible,  and 
that  it  may  remain  as  a  pattern  of  that  constitutional  lan- 
guage which  a  Judge  should  deliver,  who  is  above  Ministerial 
influence,  and  knows  no  Master  but  the  Law.^ 

"  Claudius  Pegues,  Foreman. 

William  White. 

William  Hardwick. 

Zachariah  Nettles. 

Benjamin  Williamson. 

Benjamin  Rogers. 


*  "  American  Archives,"  vol.  i.  p.  959.  This  iuvaluable  collection  of  the 
records  of  the  few  years  preceding  the  Revolution  is  to  be  found  in  the  Charles- 
ton Library.     S.  C.  Gazette,  December  16-23,  1774, 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CIIERAWS.  217 

Enoch  James. 
William  Hickman. 
Jacob  Bruce. 
Benjamin  Davis. 
Stephen  Jackson. 
Josepli  Parsons. ^^ 

This  early  declaration  of  their  rights,  as  American  free- 
men, and  of  determined  resistance  to  the  encroachments  of 
the  British  Crown  to  the  last  extremity,  reflected  immortal 
honor  upon  the  bold  and  inflexible  patriots  of  the  Old 
Cheraws  !  Carolina  sent  forth  no  timelier  or  more  fearless 
voice  from  her  '  borders.  Nor  were  the  Grand  Jury,  to 
whom  the  charge  of  his  Honor  was  more  specially  directed, 
wanting  in  the  spirit  befitting  such  a  crisis.  They  took 
the  matter  into  anxious  consideration,  and  on  the  19th  of 
November,  the  day  following  the  address  of  the  Petit  Jury, 
made  their  Presentments  in  these  words  (relating  first  to 
local  matters)  : — 

"  I.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  Law  for 
clearing  Pedee  River,  and  to  prevent  trees  being  felled 
therein,  its  navigation  at  present  being  unsafe. 

"  II.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  Law  to 
prevent  the  hunting  of  deer  by  fire  in  the  night  time,  by 
which  means  many  horses  and  neat  cattle  are  destroyed,  to 
the  great  damage  of  the  owners. 

"  III.  We  present  Andrew  Gibson  for  wilful  and  deli- 
berate perjury ;  by  the  information  of  George  Cusack. 

"  IV.  We  present,  as  a  grievance  of  the  first  magnitude, 
the  right  claimed  by  the  British  Parliament  to  tax  us,  and 
by  their  acts  to  bind  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever.  When  we 
reflect  on  our  other  grievances,  they  all  appear  trifling  in 
comparison  with  this ;  for  if  we  may  be  taxed,  imprisoned, 
and  deprived  of  life,  by  the  force  of  edicts  to  which  neither 
we  or  our  Constitutional  Representatives  have  ever  assented, 
no  slavery  can  be  more  abject  than  ours. 

"  We  are,  however,  sensible  that  we  have  a  better  secu- 
rity for  our  lives,  our  liberties,  and  fortunes,  than  the  mere 
will  of  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain ;  and  are  fully  con- 
vinced that  we  cannot  be  constitutionally  taxed  but  by  Re- 


218  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

presentatives  of  our  own   election^   or  bound  by   any  laws 
than  those  to  which  they  have  assented. 

"  This  right  of  being  exempted  from  all  laws  but  those 
enacted  with  the  consent  of  Representatives  of  our  own  elec- 
tion^  we  deem  so  essential  to  our  freedom,  and  so  engrafted 
in  our  Constitution,  that  we  are  determined  to  defend  it  at 
the  hazard  of  our  lives  and  fortunes ;  and  we  earnestly  re- 
quest that  this  Presentment  may  be  laid  before  our  Consti- 
tutional Representatives,  the  Commons  House  of  Assembly 
of  this  Colony,  that  it  may  be  known  how  much  we  prize 
our  freedom,  and  how  resolved  we  are  to  preserve  it, 

"  We  recommend  that  these  Presentments  be  published 
in  the  several  Gazettes  of  this  Province.* 

Alexander  M'lntosh^  Foreman.      L.S. 

Henry  W.  Harrington.  L.S. 

Thomas  Ayres.  L.S. 

Robert  Blair.  L.S. 

William  Pegues.  L.S. 

Robert  Lide.  L.S. 

George  Hicks.  L  S. 

John  Hodges.  L.S. 

Arthur  Hart.  L.S. 

Elias  Du  Bois.  L.S. 

Robert  Clary.  L.S. 

Martin  Dewitt.  L.S. 

Thomas  Eilerbe.  L  S. 

Martin  Kolb.  L.S. 

John  Kimbrough.  L.S. 

Moses  Speight.  L.S. 

Thomas  Lide.  L.S. 

Thomas  James.  L.S. 

John  Wilds.  L.S. 

Thomas  Edwards.  L.S. 

"  Whereupon  the  following  order  was  passed,  viz.  : — 

"  South  Carolina, 

"  Cheraws  District. 
''  At  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  Oyer  and 


"  American  Archives,"  vol.  1.  p.  959 ;  <S.  C.  Gazette,  Dec.  16-23,  1774. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS.  219 

Terminer,  Assize  and  General  Jail  Delivery,  begun  and 
holden  at  Cheraws,  on  the  15th  day  of  November,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  1774,  before  the  Honorable  William 
Henry  Drayton,  Esq.,  one  of  the  Justices  of  our  Sovereign 
Lord  the  King,  Ordered,  that  the  Charge  of  his  Honor,  the 
Judge,  together  -with  the  address  presented  to  his  Honor  by 
the  Petit  Jury,  immediately  before  their  discharge  on  the 
18th  inst.,  and  the  Presentments  of  the  Grand  Jury,  the 
next  day,  at  the  present  Sessions,  be  published  in  the  seve- 
ral Gazettes  of  this  Province. 

"  By  the  Court, 

"  Calvin  Spencer, 
"  D.C.C.  &  P.'^ 

Thus,  in  language  as  manly  as  had  been  previously 
uttered,  did  the  Grand  Jury  give  expression  to  those  lofty 
sentiments  which  had  taken  deep  hold  of  the  hearts  of  the 
people.  In  doing  so,  they  gave  utterance  to  those  con^'ic- 
tions  which  repeated  acts  of  oppression  had  only  served  to 
strengthen.  The  idea  of  a  true  constitutional  representa- 
tion was  now  as  thoroughly  comprehended,  as  the  determi- 
nation was  fixed  to  secure  it,  or  perish  in  the  attempt. 

It  is  questionable,  whether  any  earlier  or  bolder  declara- 
tion of  rights  is  to  be  found  in  our  Provincial  records. 

The  Charge  of  Judge  Drayton,  delivered  at  the  Cheraws, 
and  other  Courts  of  the  Circuit,  with  the  Presentments  of 
the  several  Grand  Juries,  was  laid  by  the  Ministers  before 
the  two  Houses  of  Parliament,  and  made  the  subject  of  ex- 
citing and  indignant  comment."^ 

In  his  celebrated  Charge  to  the  Grand  Jury  of  Charles- 
town,  in  April,  1776 — a  charge  "replete  with  patriotism, 
reasoning,  and  learning" — Judge  Drayton,  then  Chief  Jus- 
tice, alluded  to  this  subject,  saying  :  "  The  British  Ministers 
already  have  presented  a  Charge  of  mine  to  the  notice  of 
the  Lords  and  Commons  in  Parliament ;  and  I  am  nothing 
loath  that  they  take  equal  resentment  against  this  Charge. 
For,  supported  by  the  fundamental  laws  of  the  Constitution, 
and  engaged  as  I  am  in  the  cause  of  ^drtue,  I  fear  no  con- 
sequences from  their  machinations.^f 

*  "  Drayton's  Memoirs,"  vol.  i.  p.  216.  f  Preface  to  ditto,  p.  xvi. 


220  HISTORY   OF   THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

It  was  to  be  expected^  that  a  Judge,  wlio  could  speak  in 
tones  of  such  eloquent  defiance,  would  be  speedily  removed 
from  the  Bench;  and  accordingly,  he  was  superseded  the 
next  month  (December),  by  a  more  subservient  suc- 
cessor. 

The  important  part  performed  by  Judge  Drayton  in  pre- 
paring the  way  for  Independence,  has  not  in  later  times 
been  fully  estimated. 

He  left  a  kingly  bench  only  to  shine  with  more  brilliant 
lustre,  if  possible,  as  Chief  Justice  of  a  Republican  Court ; 
and  from  that  high  position  to  be  transferred  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  by  the  united  voice  of  his  countrymen. 
While  engaged  in  the  active  labors  of  that  body  in  Phila- 
delphia, in  Sept.  1779,  his  honored  life  was  prematurely 
brought  to  a  close,  not  having  comj)leted  by  a  few  days  his 
thirty-seventh  year.  Seldom  indeed  has  such  a  man,  at  so 
early  an  age,  gone  down  to  the  grave,  after  a  career  of 
labour  and  a  reputation  like  his.  The  sounds  of  universal 
mourning  were  heard,  and  Carolina  grieved  as  a  mother  for 
her  favorite  son  ! 

In  the  midst  of  the  excitement  to  which  the  discussion 
of  the  momentous  questions  of  political  rights  and  con- 
stitutional liberty  gave  birth,  the  debt  of  charity  which 
common  sufferings  in  a  common  cause  created,  was  not 
overlooked. 

One  of  the  resolutions  passed  at  the  General  Provincial 
Meeting  in  Charles-town,  in  July  (1774),  was  in  these 
Avords,  viz. : — 

"  Resolved,  That  while  the  oppressive  acts  relative  to 
Boston  are  enforced,  we  will  cheerfully,  from  time  to  time, 
contribute  towards  the  relief  of  those  poor  persons  there, 
whose  unfortunate  circumstances  may  be  thought  to  stand 
in  need  of  most  assistance." 

Before  this  time,  indeed,  subscriptions  had  been  opened 
in  Charles-town  to  relieve  the  suffering  poor  of  Boston, 
who  had  been  usually  employed  in  the  trade  of  that  town, 
and  were  now  by  the  acts  of  the  British  Government  de- 
prived of  employment.  On  the  29th  of  June,  204  barrels 
of  rice  were  sent  from  Charles-town  for  their  support,  while 
the  subscription  was  still  promoted,  as  a  source  of  future 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS. 


221 


supply."'^      There    was   a   general    response    throngliout    tlie 
Province. 

The  following  interesting  record  remains  to  rlo  honor  to 
the  patriotic  sympathies  of  the  people  of  the  Pedee.  The 
list  embraces  the  names  chiefly  of  persons  in  the  middle 
and  npper  parts  of  St.  David^s  Parish.  Other  similar  sub- 
scrij)tions  were  doubtless  circulated. 


Account  of  Cash  received  for  the  Poor  of  Boston,  by 
Henry  TV.  Harrington. 


1771.  Dec.  27. 

£ 

s.  d. 

Of  Philip  Pledger       . 

.  13 

0  0 

Of  Arthur  Hart    . 

.     7 

7  0 

Of  H.  W.  Harrington 
Of  John  Warden, 

.   13 

0  0 

by 

Mr.  Hart 

.     1 

15  0 

Of  Abraham  Parks, 

i^y 

ditto 

.     3 

10  0 

Of  Noble  Barnard, 

by 

ditto 

.      1 

12  6 

Of  George  Wright, 

by 

ditto 

.      1 

12  6 

Of  Ethelred  Rogers, 

by 

ditto 

.     1 

12  6 

177-1.  Dec.  30. 

Of  Walter  Downs 

.      1 

12  6 

1775.  Jan.  2. 

Of  Henry  Councel 

.     1 

12  6 

Of  Claudius  Pegues, 

by 

Mr.  Hicks 

.  13 

0  0 

Of  Thomas  Lide, 

by 

ditto 

.  13 

0  0 

Of  Nathanael  Saunders, 

by 

ditto 

.     8 

5  0 

Of  Malachi  Murfee,  Jun. 

,by 

ditto 

.     8 

2  6 

Of  James  Reed, 

by 

ditto 

.      1 

12  6 

Of  Thomas  Williams, 

by 

ditto 

.     1 

12  6 

Of  John  Andrews, 

by 

ditto 

.     1 

0  0 

Of  Burrell  Boykin, 

by 

ditto 

.     3 

5  0 

Of  William  Pegues, 

by 

ditto 

7 

7  0 

Of  James  Sanders, 

by 

ditto 

.  10 

0  0 

Of  David  Roche, 

by 

Self 

.     1 

12  6 

Of  George  Hicks, 

by 

ditto 

.  10 

0  0 

£125 

11  6 

Paid  this  sum  to  Col.  G.  G. 

Powell. 

Drayton's  Memoirs,"  vol.  i.  p.  113. 


222  HISTORY   OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

1775.  Jan.  27.  ^   s.   d. 

Of  Daniel  Sparks,  by  self 1  13  6 

1775.  Feb.  7. 

Of  Thomas  Ellerbe 6     0  0 

Of  William  Hardick 1   12  6 

Of  Thomas  Bingham 1    12  6 

Of  Fi-ancis  GHlespie 3     5  0 

Of  John  Donaldson 5     0  0 

Of  Magnus Corgill,  5  bush,  corn,  at  12s.  6d.  3     2  6 

1775.  May  23. 

Of  Abel  Edwards 2  10  0 

24  15  0 
Of  the  Council  of  Safety,  agreeably  to  an 

order  of  the  Committee 27     0  0 


£51  15  0 
Cr. 

1775.  May  20.  £   s.   d. 
By  cash    paid  by  H.  W.  Har- 
rington to  Pike  Johnson,  for 
bringing  an  express      .      .      .   27     0  0 

1776.  Nov.  2. 

By  cash  paid  to  the  Committee 

by  H.  W.  Harrington  .      .      .  24  15  0 

51   15  0* 

Thus  the  year,  1774,  in  its  eventful  progress,  drew  to  a 
close — a  year  for  ever  memorable  in  the  history  of  St. 
David's  Parish  and  the  "  Old  Cheraws.'"" 

To  the  first  appeals  in  behalf  of  liberty,  a  hearty  response 
was  made  by  their  inhabitants. 


*  The  origiual  book  of  entry,  with  this  subscription  and  other  interesting  and 
very  valuable  matter,  was  found  among  the  papers  of  Philip  Pledger,  Esq.,  of 
Marlborough,  already  referred  to,  and  though  subsequently  used  for  common 
purposes  of  memorandum  and  account,  happily  escaped  the  ravages  of  time, 
and  remains,  in  all  probabihty,  the  only  relic  of  the  kind  connected  with  the 
efforts  made  by  the  patriots  of  Carolina,  under  the  action  of  the  Provincial 
Congress,  for  raising  funds  for  the  suffering  poor  of  Boston — the  saddest  com- 
mentary, it  may  also  be  added,  furnished  by  the  history  of  that  era,  on  the 
changes  that  have  taken  place  since ! 


HISTORY    OF   TUE   OLD    CHERAWS.  223 

The  approaching  crisis  fouud  them  ready,  intelligent, 
watchful,  and  unyielding  defenders  of  every  sacred  right. 
Among  the  first  to  make  known  their  political  sentiments 
to  the  world,  they  were  not  behind  the  foremost  in  the 
vigor  and  boldness  of  style  in  which  those  sentiments  were 
expressed.  The  documents  which  have  been  given,  will 
compare  favorably  with  any  of  a  similar  kind  to  which  this 
eventful  era  gave  birth ;  and  were  only  surpassed,  if  at  all, 
as  to  a  spirit  of  lofty  defiance,  by  sentiments  subsequently 
uttered  by  the  patriots  of  the  Pedee  themselves. 

And  yet,  so  slow  are  mankind  to  relinquish  long-existing 
habits  of  thought  and  feeling,  and  so  deeply  rooted  is  the 
attachment toforms  of  Government  immemorially  established, 
that  even  at  this  point,  far  as  they  had  gone,  any  reason- 
able concessions  on  the  part  of  the  Crown  and  the  repeal  of 
a  few  odious  acts  of  Parliament,  with  the  exhibition  of  a 
spii'it  of  justice  and  consideration  for  the  Colonies,  might 
have  turned  back  the  rising  tide  of  rebellion,  and  secured 
for  the  king  once  more  the  affection  of  his  faithful  subjects. 

But  such  concessions  were  not  to  be  made.  The  suicidal 
policy  of  the  Government  was  pursued  with  a  strange  in- 
fatuation. The  die  had  been  cast.  The  hand  of  Provi- 
dence was  in  the  work  ;  and  many  tribes  and  tongues  who 
looked  from  afar  upon  the  unnatural  conflict,  deeply  in- 
terested in  its  issues,  anxiously  waited  for  their  final  de- 
liverance, and  rejoiced  as  the  end  came,  to  call  the  patriots 
of  America  blessed  ! 


224  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    ClIERAWS. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Last  days  of  Royalty  in  So.  Ca. — List  of  appointees  of  the  Crown  published — 
Object  of  publication — Magistrates  for  Cheraws  District — Regimental  officers 
of  militia  for  Cheraws — Meeting  of  Provincial  Congress — Account  of  it — 
Members  for  St.  David's — District  committees  appointed — Committee  of  St, 
David's— Duties  of  committees — -Their  powers — Additional  power  given — 
Inhabitants  to  arm  themselves — Circuit  Court  for  Cheraws — His  Majesty's 
Justices  appear  for  last  time— Presentment  of  grand  jury  of  Cheraws — 
Attempt  of  Court  to  quash  chief  presentment — It  appears  in  the  papers — 
Reflections  on  theseproceedlugs— Grand  jury  exponent  of  popular  sentiment 
— Congress  called  together  before  time  fixed  for  meeting — -Circular  letter 
on  subject — Articles  of  Association  adopted — Other  resolves — Military  ardour 
of  people — Provincial  officers  elected  by  Congress  from  St.  David's — Names 
of  persons  added  to  Committee  of  Observation  for  St.  David's — Action  of 
committee  as  to  Colonel  Steward  and  John  Mitchell — New  election  for 
Congress  ordered — Spirit  of  volunteering — William  Henry  Harrington 
commissioned  Captain — Stockade  Fort  at  Cheraws — History  of  it — Volun- 
teering increases — Commissions  issued  for  St.  David's  parish — Dissatisfac- 
tions— Captain  Wise  resigns — His  character — Congress  meets — Its  action 
as  to  St.  David's — -Detachment  from  Colonel  Powell's  regiment  ordered  to 
join  Colonel  Richardson — Major  Thomas  marches — Colonel  Hicks  stopped — 
Conflict  with  Tories  on  Pedee — -Concluding  remarks. 

With  the  opening  of  the  year  1775,  everything  indicated 
the  approach  of  the  last  days  of  Royalty  in  South  Carolina. 
There  was  an  evident  effort  on  the  part  of  the  officers  of 
the  Crown,  if  not  to  assume  more  authority,  at  least  to 
make  the  most,  by  public  demonstrations,  of  what  they  had. 
Their  object  was  to  impress  and  overawe  the  people.  The 
time,  however,  for  effect,  by  means  like  these,  had  passed. 
The  charm  which  Majesty  had  carried  with  it  was  gone. 
The  insignia  of  office  did  not  attract  as  heretofore,  while 
promises  and  tlu-eats,  though  in  the  name  of  the  King, 
were  stript  of  their  ancient  j)owers. 

There  was  in  the  popular  mind  a  growing  consciousness 
of  right,  and  of  the  strength  which  a  righteous  cause  im- 
parts. Names  now  passed  for  what  they  were  worth,  and 
things  were  rated  according  to  their  intrinsic  value. 

So  it  has  ever  been  in  the  history  of  those  great  revolu- 
tions in  human   opinion  which  have  overthrown  successive 


HISTOliY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  225 

dynasties,  or  Liirled  the  mightiest  nionai'chs  from  their 
thrones.  Once  the  veil  is  taken  away  and  the  bonds  are 
cast  asunder,  the  progress  of  liberal  thought  becomes  hence- 
forth as  rapid  as  it  had  been  fixed,  or  even  retrograde  in 
its  state  of  unnatural  bondage.  Men  wonder  then  that 
they  did  not  discover  the  right  or  see  the  wrong  before, 
and  wondering  thus,  are  not  unfrequently  impelled  to 
hasty,  and  as  a  consequence,  unhealthy  action.  The  de- 
cline of  royalty  from  what  it  had  been  in  the  American 
Colonies  before  the  opening  stages  of  the  Revolution,  is 
in  some  respects  a  sadly  touching  story.  So  much  was 
there  on  tlie  one  hand  to  be  lost  and  such  wondrous 
pomp  to  be  brought  low,  with  so  many  long-existing  ties 
on  the  other  to  be  rudely  severed,  that  the  heart  cannot 
remain  unmoved  at  the  recital. 

The  year  1775  opened  with  an  order  on  the  part  of 
Government,  the  object  of  which  seems  to  have  been,  in 
part  at  least,  to  recall  the  leading  inhabitants,  by  the 
very  fact  and  public  declaration  of  official  position,  to  a 
sense  of  their  allegiance  to  the  king  ;  and  also  to  impress 
the  people,  by  such  an  exhibition  of  royal  prerogative,  with 
the  vigor  and  determination  of  the  existing  rule. 

This  action  was  as  follows,  viz. : — 

"  South  Carolina,  Jan.  9th,  1775. 

"  It  is  ordered  by  his  Honor,  the  Lieutenant-Governor, 
in  Council,  that  the  names  of  the  INIagistrates  for  the  several 
districts  in  this  Province  be  printed  in  the  several  Gazettes."* 

The  names  of  the  Magistrates  for  Cheraw  District,  as 
published,  were  these,  viz. :  "  William  Arthur,  Thomas 
AVade,  James  Lindlay,  Henry  Patrick,  Claudius  Pegues, 
Charles  Augustus  Steward,  Thomas  Turner,  John  Perkins, 
Arthur  Hart,  Alexander  M'Intosh,  Philip  Pledger,  and  Wm. 
Henry  Harrington."  In  this  list  of  his  Majesty's  Justices 
for  Cheraws,  are  found  the  names  of  some  who  had  already 
become  conspicuous  from  their  opposition  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  the  Crown.  It  may  have  been  a  stroke  of  policy 
as  to  them ;  but  if  so,  it  seems    to   little    purpose    that  the 


*  So.  Ca.  Gazette,  January  6-13,  1775. 


226  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

effort  was  made.  These  devoted  friends  of  liberty  never 
faltered  in  the  course  they  had  begun.  They  were  true 
indeed  to  their  king,  as  far  as  he  would  allow  them  to  be, 
but  not  less  true  to  themselves,  as  the  first  instincts  of 
nature  prompted  them. 

The  names  of  the  officers  of  the  Provincial  Militia  were 
likewise  published  in  the  early  part  of  this  year.  The 
militia  at  this  time  consisted  of  twelve  regiments  of  foot 
and  one  of  horse.  The  Regiment  of  Cheraws  District  was 
the  7th  of  Foot,  with  the  following  officers,  viz. :  George 
Gabriel  Powell,  Colonel ;  Charles  Augustus  Steward,  Lieut. - 
Col.,  and  Abraham  Buckholdts,  Major.*  These  officers 
were  all  of  royal  appointment,  and  hence  the  appeal  to 
their  fidelity,  and  the  stigma,  as  it  was  thought,  which 
might  thus  be  made  to  attach  to  their  desertion  from  their 
sovereign's  cause.  If  the  Government,  long  established, 
was  to  continue  undisturbed  in  the  exercise  of  its  authority, 
the  increasing  pressure  of  the  time  called  for  redoubled 
efforts,  and  made  it  necessary  for  the  prerogatives  of  the 
king  to  be  stretched  to  their  utmost  bounds. 

The  delegates  elected  by  the  several  districts  and  parishes 
in  November,  were  to  meet  in  Charles-toAvn  on  the  11th  of 
January  of  this  year. 

This  new  representative  body  was  destined  to  give  shape 
and  effectiveness  to  the  rising  spirit  of  discontent  through- 
out the  colony,  and  to  mark  an  era  in  its  history. 

The  following  notice  of  its  first  assembling  appeared  in 
the  papers  of  the  day. 

«  Charles-towu,  Jan.  13th,  1775. 

"  On  Wednesday  last  the  gentlemen  chosen  by  the 
several  parishes,  &c.,  in  this  Province,  convened  here  in  a 
general  meeting,  and  elected  Charles  Pinckney,  Esq.,  Chair- 
man. The  meeting  has  been  continued  every  day  since, 
and  is  now  sitting.  We  have  been  favored  with  the  fol- 
lowing list  of  the  gentlemen  elected.^f  Of  these,  the 
names  for  St.  David  were  those  already  given,  viz. :  Hon. 
George   Gabriel   Powell,    Samuel    Wise,   Claudius    Pegues, 


*  Drayton's  "  Memoirs,"  vol.  i.  p.  352. 
t   Gazette,  January  13,  1775. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  227 

Alexander  JNl'Iiitosb,  Ileury  William  Harriugtou,  Esqrs., 
aud  Col.  George  Pawley.  During  the  session  the  members 
resolved  themselves  into  ^^  a  Provineial  Congress,"  and  the 
body  was  thus  designated  afterward.  The  proceedings  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  which  had  adjourned  in  October 
previous,  were  submitted  to  its  consideration.  One  of  the 
Articles  of  Association,  adopted  by  the  Continental  Congress 
on  the  26th  October,  was  in  these  words,  viz. :  "  Eleventh — 
That  a  Committee  be  chosen  in  every  county,  city,  and 
toAvn  by  those  who  are  qualified  to  vote  for  lleprcsentatives 
in  the  Legislature,  whose  business  it  shall  be  attentively  to 
observe  the  conduct  of  all  persons  touching  this  association ; 
and  when  it  shall  be  made  to  appear  to  the  satisfaction  of  a 
majority  of  any  such  Committee,  that  any  person  within 
the  limits  of  their  appointment  has  violated  this  association, 
that  such  inajority  do  forthwith  canse  the  truth  of  the  case 
to  be  published  in  the  Gazettes,  to  the  end  that  all  such 
foes  to  the  rights  of  British  America  may  be  publicly 
known  and  universally  contemned  as  the  enemies  of  Ameri- 
can liberty ;  and  thenceforth  we  respectively  will  break  off 
all  dealings  with  him  or  her."^  In  accordance  with  this 
recommendation,  it  was  resolved  by  the  Provincial  Congress, 
on  the  first  day  of  its  sitting,  that  the  following  gentlemen 
be  the  committees  for  the  several  districts  and  parishes 
hereinafter  mentioned,  for  effectually  canying  into  execu- 
tion the  Continental  Association,  and  for  receiving  and 
determining  upon  applications  relative  to  the  law^  processes, 
&c.  The  committee  under  this  resolution  for  the  Parish  of 
St.  David  consisted  of  the  following  gentlemen,  viz. :  Henry 
William  Harrington,  George  Pawley,  Alexander  INPIntosh, 
(ilandius  Pcgues,  Bur  well  Boy  akin,  George  Hicks,  Philip 
Pledger,  and  John  Donaldson.  According  to  the  system  of 
Government  and  its  subordinate  authorities  for  the  Colony, 
established  by  the  Congress,  the  representatives  of  the 
parishes  and  districts  respectively  composed  their  local 
committees  ;  and  they  were  also  assisted  by  Committees  of 
Inspection.  The  Provincial  Congress  made  all  these 
appointments  in  the  first  instance  ;  and   even   filled   up  the 


*  Ramsay's  "  Revolution  in  So.  Ca.,"  vol.  i.  p.  25S. 

q2 


228  HISTOEY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

double  returns  of  representatives^  in  order  that  no  time 
should  be  lost  in  giving  a  complete  appearance  to  the  body 
politic  and  the  greatest  energy  to  their  operations ;  but  all 
future  vacancies  were  to  be  filled  up  by  the  respective  dis- 
tricts and  parishes  in  which  they  should  occur. 

By  these  arrangements  an  independent  authority  virtually 
arose  ;  while  the  Royal  Government  retained  little  else  than 
public  officers  without  power,  and  a  show  of  government 
without  the  means  of  supporting  it.*  This  plan  seems  not 
to  have  been  carried  out  fully  as  to  St.  David^s  Parish,  so 
far  as  the  committee  being  identical  with  its  delegates  in 
the  Congress. 

The  Committees  of  Inspection  were  distributed  through- 
out the  district  or  parish,  so  as  to  secure  a  thorough  over- 
sight in  every  part.  The  central  or  executive  committee 
was  to  meet  twice  a  month  for  consultation  and  despatch 
of  business.  The  system  was  admirably  arranged,  and  gave 
unity  and  efficiency  to  the  general  efforts  to  prepare  the 
way  for  revolution  and  a  change  of  government. 

It  was  further  resolved,  "  That  it  is  the  unanimous 
opinion  of  this  Congress,  that  no  action  for  any  debt  shall 
be  commenced  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  this 
colony,  nor  any  such  action  pending  there,  which  was  com- 
menced since  last  September  return,  be  proceeded  in, 
without  the  consent  of  the  committee  of  the  parish  or 
district  in  which  the  defendant  resides,  until  it  shall  be 
otherwise  determined  in  Provincial  Congress — That  the  said 
committees  respectively,  or  a  majority  of  such  of  them  as 
shall  meet  (provided  they  are  not  less  than  three,  in  the 
country  parishes  and  districts),  do,  upon  application,  give 
permission  for  the  bringing  or  proceeding  in  such  suits,  in 
the  following  cases — that  is  to  say,  where  the  debtors  re- 
fused to  renew  their  obligations,  or  to  give  reasonable 
security,  or  are  justly  suspected  of  intending  to  leave  the 
Province,  or  to  defraud  their  creditors,  or  where  there  shall 
appear  to  the  majority  of  such  committees,  as  aforesaid, 
any  other  reasonable  cause  for  the  granting  such  permis- 
sion :  which   committees  shall  meet  and  sit  on  the  first  and 


Drayton's  '•  Memoirs,"  vol.  i.  p.  175. 


I 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  229 

third  Saturdays  in  every  month,  at  tAvelve  o^clock  at  noon, 
or  oftener,  as  it  shall  be  found  necessary,  for  the  purposes  of 
hearing  and  determining  on  such  applications.  That  seizures 
and  sales  upon  mortgages  shall  be  considered  on  the  same 
footing  as  actions  for  debt.  That  it  be  recommended  to 
the  committees  for  each  parish  and  district,  that  they  use 
their  best  endeavours  to  prevent  any  debtors  from  removing 
their  efiects  out  of  the  colony,  without  the  knowledge  and 
consent  of  their  creditors.  That  the  Congress  will  in- 
demnify the  committees  for  so  doing.  And  that  no  sum- 
mons shall  be  issued  by  any  magistrate  in  small  and  mean 
causes,  without  the  like  consent.-"''^ 

A  resolution  passed  at  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  Con- 
gress in  June,  conferred  additional  powers  on  the  committees, 
and  was  in  these  words  : — "  Resolved^  that  any  person  having 
violated,  or  refused  obedience  to  the  authority  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  shall,  by  the  committee  of  the  district  or 
parish  in  which  such  oflPender  resides,  be  questioned  relative 
thereto;  and  upon  due  conviction  of  either  of  the  offences 
aforesaid,  and  continuing  contumacious,  such  person  shall, 
by  such  committee,  be  declared  and  advertised  as  an  enemy 
to  the  liberties  of  America,  and  an  object  of  the  resentment 
of  the  public ;  and  that  the  said  committee  shall  be  sup- 
ported in  so  doing.^'t 

The  committees  were  requested  to  use  their  utmost  en- 
deavors to  obtain  liberal  subscriptions  for  the  suffering 
people  of  Boston. 

Resolutions  were  also  passed,  recommending  that  all  the 
inhabitants  of  the  colony  should  be  attentive  in  learning 
the  use  of  arms ;  and  that  their  officers  should  train  and 
exercise  them  at  least  once  a  fortnight. 

The  Congress  then  adjourned,  January  17th,  until  it 
should  be  called  together  by  the  Charles-town  General  Com- 
mittee. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things  now,  that  those  who  were 
not  well  affected  began  to  be  seriously  alarmed,  and,  doubt- 
less, to  organize  as  Avell   as    they  could  for  the  approaching 


*  "  American  Arcbives,"  vol.  i.  p.  1109. 
■j-  Ibid.,  p.  953,  and  "  Journal  of  the  Congress.'' 


230  HISTORY    OF    TliE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

conflict.  Some  eA'idences  of  this  ■will  be  found  towards  the 
close  of  the  year.  Others,  not  willing  to  take  up  arms 
against  their  adopted  country,  arranged  their  affairs  so  as  to 
go  abroad.  Events  were  transpiring  in  rapid  succession, 
startling  to  the  officers  of  the  Crown,  and  committing  the 
rising  sons  of  liberty  more  unchangeably  to  the  lofty  and 
unyielding  position  they  had  taken. 

Once  more  were  the  people  of  Cheraws  District,  in  the 
highest  capacity  known  to  the  law,  to  make  a  public  decla- 
ration of  their  sentiments,  but  not,  as  before,  in  the  presence 
of  one  who  had  encouraged  them,  by  his  own  fearless  bear- 
ing and  eloquent  tones,  to  resistance. 

His  Majesty's  Justices  made  their  last  circuit  in  the 
spring  of  1775.  The  successor  of  Judge  Drayton,  Justice 
Gregory,  with  Justice  Savage,  appeared  on  the  Northern 
Circuit.  Tlie  course  of  Judge  Drayton  had  equally  alarmed 
and  offended  the  Royal  Government,  and  it  was  doubtless 
arranged  for  his  successor  to  preside  in  this  part  of  the 
Province  for  the  first  time,  so  as  to  efface  to  some  extent,  if 
possible,  the  impression  which  had  been  made,  and  stem  at 
the  outset  the  tide  of  independence. 

Some  CAidences  of  such  an  attempt,  though  worse  than 
fruitless,  will  be  found  in  the  conduct  of  the  King's  Judges 
on  this  occasion. 

The  action  of  the  Grand  Jury,  so  far  as  it  was  published 
by  order  of  the  Court,  was  as  follows,  viz. : — 

"  The  Presentments  of  the  Grand  Jurors  for  the  District 
of  Cheraws,  &c.,  at  Long  Bluff,  Saturday,  the  15th  day  of 
April,  1775. 

"  I.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  new  Jury 
list  in  this  district. 

"  II.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  Law  for 
cleansing  Pedee  River,  and  to  prevent  trees  l)eing  felled 
therein,  its  navigation  at  present  being  extremely  dan- 
gerous. 

"  III.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  Bridge 
over  Thompson's  Creek,  on  the  road  from  the  Cheraw  Hill 
to  the  Court  House ;  and  another  over  Black  Creek,  at  or 
near  the  present  ferry. 

"  IV.  We  present,  as  a  verv  great  grievance,  the  want  of 


HISTORY   OF   THE   OLD   CHERAWS.  231 

a  ^^agrant  Act  in  tins  Province  ;  this  district  in  particnlar 
being  mnch  infested  by  many  idle  people^  who  have  no 
visible  way  of  obtaining  an  honest  livelihood. 

"  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  little  notice  generally 
taken  of  the  Presentments  of  the  Grand  Juries  of  this 
district. 

"  Lastly.  We  recommend  that  these,  our  Presentments, 
may,  by  order  of  the  Court,  be  laid  before  the  Commons 
House  of  Assembly  of  this  Colony,  and  be  made  public  in 
the  Gazettes. 

"  Thomas  Lide,  Foreman.     L.S. 

Samuel  Wise.  L.S. 

John  Kimbrough.  L.S. 

John  Ellerbe.  L.S. 

Charles  M'Call.  L.S. 

William  Dewitt.  L.S. 

Peter  Kolb.  L.S. 

Moses  Speight.  L.S. 

Aaron  Daniel.  L.S. 

Magnus  Corgill.  L.S. 

Zachariah  Nettles.  L.S. 

Benjamin  Jackson.  L.S. 

Claudius  Pegues.  L.S. 

William  Pouncey.  L.S. 

Benjamin  Rogers.  L.S. 

Thomas  Bingham.  L.S." 

Unfortunately  for  the  cause  of  royalty,  the  additional 
matter  was  published,  viz. : — 

"  The  Grand  Jury  likewise  offered  the  following  as  a  Pre- 
sentment, but  it  was  quashed  by  the  Court :  '  We  present, 
as  an  enormous  grievance,  the  power  exercised  by  the 
British  Parliament  of  taxing  and  making  laws,  binding 
upon  the  American  Colonies  in  all  cases  whatsoever,  such 
power  being  subversive  of  the  most  inestimable  rights  of 
British  subjects — that  of  being  taxed  by  their  consent  only, 
given  by  their  Representatives  in  General  Assembly,  and 
that  of  trial  by  jury — both  which  are  evidently  inherent  in 
every  British  American,  and  of  which  no  power  on  earth  can 
legally  deprive  them :  We,  well  knowing  the  importance  of 


232  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

these  rights^  in  securing  to  us  our  liberties^  lives,  and 
estates,  and  conceiving  it  to  be  every  man^s  indispensable 
duty  to  transmit  tbem  to  bis  posterity,  are  fully  determined 
to  defend  them  at  the  hazard  of  our  lives  and  fortunes. 

'' '  At  the  same  time  that  we  thus  openly  declare  how 
highly  we  prize  our  rights,  we  beg  leave  to  assure  your 
Honor  that  we  have  a  due  sense  of  that  allegiance,  so 
strongly  recommended  to  us  by  your  Honor  in  your  charge  ; 
and  that  while  our  Sovereign  adheres  to  his  part  of  that 
original  and  reciprocal  contract  made  with  his  people,  and 
expressed  in  his  Coronation  Oath,  none  of  his  subjects  shall 
exceed  us  in  constitutional  submission  and  fidelity. 

"  '  As  your  Honor,  on  the  second  day  of  the  Sessions,  was 
pleased,  not  only  to  acquaint  us  your  Honor  had  been 
informed,  "  that  some  of  the  magistrates  of  this  district 
had  declared  to  the  people  that  there  was  no  law,^^  but  also 
to  recommend  to  us,  ''  to  make  strict  inquiry,  and  to  present 
all  such  magistrates,  that  they  might  be  deservedly  struck 
out  of  the  commission  of  the  peace  : "  we  think  it  incum- 
bent on  us  to  assure  your  Honor  that,  notwithstanding  we 
have  made  all  possible  enquiry,  we  have  not  received  the 
least  information,  except  from  your  Honor,  in  the  general 
terms  above  expressed,  of  any  of  the  magistrates  lia^dng 
acted  so  exceeding  indiscreetly ;  and  therefore,  we  cannot 
but  conceive,  that  some  wicked,  malicious  persons,  enemies 
to  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  this  country,  have  en- 
deavored, by  false  and  secret  accusations,  to  prejudice  your 
Honor  against  some  of  the  magistrates  in  this  district; 
but,  as  the  informers  have  not  thought  proper  to  support 
their  accusations  in  public,  which  they  venture  to  advance 
in  private,  we  trust  that  your  Honor  will  transfer  your  dis- 
pleasure from  the  innocent  accused,  to  the  base  accusers.^  "^ 

It  is  manifest,  from  this  bold  and  spirited  document, 
which  the  Court  very  unwisely  and  vainly  attempted  to  sup- 
press, that  the  people  of  Cheraws  District,  instead  of  rece- 
ding from  the  position  taken  the  year  before,  had  gone 
further  in  the  fearless  expression  of  their  sentiments,  and 
in  commenting  on  the  remissness  of  the  Government.      It 


*  Gazette,  June  9-16,  1775. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  233 

had  not  yet  become  customary  to  call  public  meetings,  except 
in  the  larger  towns,  as  a  means  of  giving  expression  to  the 
opinions  of  the  people  on  questions  of  political  moment. 
The  settlements  in  the  interior  were  too  remote  from  each 
other  to  render  it  practicable.  The  Grand  Jury  was  there- 
fore made  the  exponent  of  the  popular  sentiment,  as  the 
most  authoritative  and  imposing  organ  by  which  the  feel- 
ings of  a  people,  under  such  circumstances,  could  be 
expressed.  Though  the  Court  could  quash,  the  Press  could 
not  be  silenced.  And  what  his  Majesty's  Justice  would  not 
allow  to  be  entered  on  the  records,  was  given  shortly  after, 
in  a  more  public  form,  to  the  world.  The  Grand  Jury  of 
Cheraws  is  believed  to  have  heen  the  only  one  in  the  Pro- 
vince which  made  the  wrongs  inflicted  by  the  Crown  the 
subject  of  presentment  during  the  Spring  Assizes."^ 

Their  vindication  of  the  magistrates, f  upon  whom  the 
Coui't  reflected  with  so  much  severity,  was  as  bold  as  the  call- 
ing attention  to  the  fact  "  of  the  little  notice  generally  taken 
of  the  Presentments  of  the  Grand  Juries  of  this  District." 

The  issue  was  now  made  with  the  King  by  his  loyal 
subjects,  on  the  ground  of  his  own  solemn  coronation  oath, 
the  principle  being,  "  that  protection  and  subjection  are 
reciprocal ;  and  that  these  reciprocal  duties  form  the  original 
contract  between  King  and  people"J — a  contract  which  is 
broken  if  the  Sovereign  oppresses  on  the  one  hand,  or  fails, 
through  any  favdt  of  his,  on  the  other,  to  afford  due  protec- 
tion. 

The  tide  of  events  was  rolling  on.  The  Provincial  Con- 
gress had  adjourned  to  meet  on  the  20th  of  June. 

But  intelligence  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  which  had 
taken  place  ou  the  19th  of  April,  reached  Charles-town,  and 
was  laid  before  the  General  Committee  on  the  8th  of  May. 
Upon  which  a  vote  was  passed  to  summon  the  Congress  to 
meet  on  the  first  day  of  June.    For  now  that  hostilities  had 


*  The  Courts  of  Charles-town,  George-town,  and  Beaufort,  at  least,  were 
silent,  and  the  silence  of  the  press  leads  to  the  inference  that  others  were  also. 

f  The  list  of  magistrates,  as  given  on  a  foregoing  piige,  embraced  some  of  the 
most  prominent  and  intlueutial  men  in  the  district.  They  had  doubtless  made 
themselves  obnoxious  to  the  Crown. 

X  Judge  Drayton's  charge  to  Grand  Jury  of  Charles-town,  "  Ramsay," 
vol.  i.  p.  114. 


234  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

actually  commenced^  immediate  and  decided  measures  were 
deemed  necessary  for  promoting  the  public  welfare.  Oue  of 
the  Circular  Letters  sent  out  to  call  the  Congress  together, 
was  as  follows,  viz.  : — 

"To  the  Committee  for  the  Parish  of  St.  David. 

"  To  the  care  of  Henry  Wm.  Harrington,  Esqr. 

"  On  the  Public  Service. 

"  Cliarles-town,  May  Stli,  1775. 
"  Gentlemen, — We  enclose  you  a  newspaper,  giving  an 
important  account  of  an  action  between  the  British  Troops 
and  the  Bostonians.  Upon  this  interesting  event,  the 
General  Committee  have  thought  it  absolutely  necessary  to 
call  the  Provincial  Congress  to  meet  at  an  earlier  day  than 
the  20th  of  June.  They  have  therefore  resolved  that  the 
Congress  shall  meet  in  Charles -town  on  the  1st  of  June. 

We  hereby  transmit  a  proper  notice  of  this  new  appoint- 
ment, and  hope  you  will  punctually  attend  at  the  appointed 
time.  The  General  Committee  have  also  given  in  charge 
to  us,  to  recommend  in  the  strongest  terms  to  you,  to  cause 
the  patrols  to  ride  often  and  diligently,  as  we  have  intelli- 
gence of  exciting  the  slaves  to  revolt  has  been  laid  before 
Administration  ;  and  you  are  desired  to  keep  this  intelli- 
gence relating  to  the  slaves  as  secret  as  may  be. 
^'  We  are  Gentlemen, 

"  Your  most  obedient  servants, 
Wm.   Henry  Drayton, 
Charles  Cotesworth  Pinckney, 
Wm.  Tennent, 
Arthur  Middleton. 
John  Lewis  Gervais. 

"  P,S. — You  will  give  as  general  notice  to  the  Members  of 
the  Congress  as  you  possibly  can,''^ 

Of  the  diabolical  plan  here  alluded  to,  for  exciting  the 
slaves  to  revolt,  no  further  notice  appears  in  the  histories  of 
the  day.  If  conceived  at  all,  it  was  doubtless  found  to  be 
either  impracticable,  or  calculated  to  drive  the  inhabitants 
to  desperate  measures  of  revenge,  and  hence  abandoned. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHEKAWS.  '  235 

On  tlie  1st  of  June,  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  mem- 
bers of  the  Congress  met,  and  such  was  the  zeal  of  the  people 
and  alarm  felt  throughout  the  Province,  that  on  the  second 
day,  an  Association  was  considered  and  passed,  to  be  entered 
into  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony,  to  which  the  mem- 
bers forthwith  atfixed  their  names.  It  was  in  these  words, 
viz. : — 

"  South  Carolina. 

"  The  actual  commencement  of  hostilities  against  this 
continent  by  the  British  Troops,  in  the  bloody  scene  on  the 
19th  of  April  last,  near  Boston,  the  increase  of  arbitrary 
impositions  from  a  wicked  and  despotic  ministry,  and  the 
dread  of  insurrection  in  the  colonies — are  causes  sufficient 
to  drive  an  oppressed  people  to  the  use  of  arms.  We, 
therefore,  the  Subscribers,  inhabitants  of  South  Carolina, 
holding  ourselves  bound  by  that  most  sacred  of  all  obliga- 
tions, the  duty  of  good  citizens  towards  an  injured  country, 
and  thoroughly  convinced,  that  under  our  present  distressed 
circumstances,  we  shall  be  justified  before  God  and  man  in 
resisting  force  by  force ;  do  unite  ourselves,  under  every 
tie  of  religion  and  honor,  and  associate  as  a  band  in  her  de- 
fence against  every  foe;  hereby  solemnly  engaging  that, when- 
ever our  Continental  or  Provincial  Councils  shall  decree  it 
necessary,  we  will  go  forth  and  be  ready  to  sacrifice  our 
lives  and  fortunes  to  secure  her  freedom  and  support. 
This  obligation  to  continue  in  full  force  until  a  reconcilia- 
tion shall  take  place  between  Great  Britain  and  America, 
upon  Constitutional  principles,  an  event  which  we  most 
ardently  desire.  And  we  will  hold  all  those  persons  in- 
imical  to  the  liberties  of  the  colonies  who  shall  refuse  to 
subscribe  this  association. ""^ 

Non-subscribers  Avere  made  amenable  to  the  General  Com- 
mittee and  by  them  punishable,  according  to  sound  policy. 

It  was  also  resolved,  "  That  all  absentees  holding  estates  in 
the  colony,  except  those  Avho  were  abroad  on  account  of 
tlicir  health,  and  those  above  60  years,  and  those  under  21, 
ought  forthwith  to  return  ;  and  that  no  persons  holding 
estates  in  this  colony  ought  to  withdraw  from  its  service, 
without  giving  good  and   sufficient    reason  for   so    doing,  to 


236  HISTORY  OF   THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

the  Provincial  Congress  ;  or,  during  its  recess^  to  the  General 
Committee/^"^  On  the  5th  day  of  the  session,  the  Congress 
resolved  to  raise  1500  Infantry,  rank  and  file,  in  two  regi- 
ments ;  and  450  Horse  Rangers,  constituting  another  regi- 
ment. Proper  pay,  clothing,  and  provisions  were  assigned 
them  ;  and  the  troops  so  raised  were  to  be  subjected  to 
military  discipline  and  the  articles  of  war,  in  like  manner 
as  the  British  troops  were  governed. 

So  great,  we  are  told,  was  the  military  ardor  among  the 
gentlemen  of  the  Province,  that  the  candidates  for  com- 
missions in  the  proposed  regiments  were  four  times  as  nume- 
rous as  could  be  employed  ;  and  in  their  number  were  many 
of  the  first  families  and  fortune.  In  making  a  selection 
among  the  numerous  candidates  that  offered,  care  was  taken 
to  choose  men  of  influence,  decision  and  spirit,  residing  in 
different  parts  of  the  Province,  so  as  to  unite  all  its  energies 
in  the  common  cause. 

Four  or  five  had  the  recommendation  of  having  served 
in  the  war  of  1756;  but  the  other  candidates  were  pre- 
ferred solely  on  the  ground  of  their  possessing  the  natural 
qualifications  requisite  for  making  good  officers,  in  addition 
to  their  holding  an  influential  rank  among  their  fellow 
citizens. t 

Soon  after  the  resolution  passed  for  raising  the  regi- 
ments, a  ballot  for  officers  was  held.  Of  these,  Alexander 
M'Intosh,  of  Clieraws,  was  elected  Major  of  the  2nd  Regi- 
ment. He  had  held  the  commission  of  captain  some  years 
before.  His  decision  and  energy,  with  a  commanding 
person  and  ample  fortune,  gave  him  a  peculiar  fitness  for 
the  position.  Of  the  Regiment  of  Rangers,  Samuel  Wise 
and  Eli  Kershaw,  from  the  Cheraw  District,  were  elected 
Captains,  and  John  Donaldson,  a  First  Lieutenant.  On  the 
18th  of  June,  Isaac  DuBose,  received  the  commission  of 
Second  Lieut,  in  the  2nd  Regiment  of  Foot.  Major 
Mcintosh  was  soon  after  promoted,  and  continued  in  active 
service.  Captain  Wise  was  also  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Major  in  the  same  Regiment. 


Drayton's  "  Memoirs,"  vol.  i.  pp.  255,  256. 
■j"  "  Ramsay,"  new  edition,  p.  135. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  237 

In  meeting  of  the  Council  of  Safety  in  Cliarlcs-town, 
23rd  June,  1775,  it  was  resolved,  "That,  in  prosecution  of 
the  Resolution  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  19th  inst., 
the  Committee  of  Observation  for  the  Parish  of  St.  DaWd, 
do  allow  ^Ir.  John  ]\Iitchell,  of  Meldrum,  the  sum  of  seven- 
teen shillings,  sixpence,  per  pound,  for  three  hundred  and 
ninety-two  pounds  weight  of  gunpowder,  bought  of  him,  and 
that  they  do  draw  for  payment  thereof,  upon  this  Council. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  said  gunpowder  do  remain  in  the 
hands  of  the  said  committee,  for  the  public  service,  and  that 
they  do  account  for  the  same  with  this  Council. •'^"^ 

On  the  22nd  of  June,  the  Provincial  Congress  Resolved, 
"  That  the  following  gentlemen  be  added  to  the  Committee 
of  Observation  for  the  Parish  of  St.  David,  viz.,  Messrs. 
David  Williams,  Ely  Kershaw,  William  Dewitt,  Thomas 
EUerbe,  John  A  Iran,  John  Kimbrough,  William  Pegues, 
Elias  Du  Bois,  Charles  Evans,  Junr.,  Benjamin  Rogers, 
Arthur  Hart,  Robert  Lide,  Aaron  Daniel,  Francis  Gillespie, 
Thomas  Powe,  Thomas  Lide,  Henry  Counsel,  Thomas 
Edwards,  Benjamin  Jackson,  and  Abel  Kolb."t 

The  duties  of  the  committee  were  most  responsible  and 
arduous,  and  the  number  first  appointed,  doiibtless,  proved 
too  small  to  take  due  oversight  of  the  extensive  territory 
embraced  within  the  limits  of  St.  David's.  Of  those  here 
added,  there  was  about  an  equal  distribution  among  the 
different  sections  of  the  parish. 

It  was  not  long  before  they  were  called  to  take  decisive 
action  as  to  two  of  their  fellow- citizens,  who  had  hitherto 
maintained  a  highly  respectable  position  as  neighbors  and 
friends. 

The  following  record  of  their  proceedings  remains. J 

"  In  Committee  of  Observation. 

"  St.  David's  Parish,  August  7th,  1775. 

"  Charles  Augustus  Steward,  Esq.,  having  counteracted  the 
Resolves  of  the  Provincial    Congress   in   frequently  issuing 


*  "  Collections  of  Historical  Society  of  So.  Ca.,"  vol.  ii.  p.  27. 
f  Supplement  to  Carolina  Gazette  of  September  7th,  1775. 
X  So.  Ca.  Gazette,  October  3,  1775. 


238  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

summons  for  debt,  was  this  day  caused  to  appear  before  the 
committee  for  said  Parish,  and  being  questioned  relative 
thereto,  acknowledged  that  he  had  so  done,  and,  if  applied 
to,  should  again. 

"  Resolved,  thereupon,   that  the   said    Charles    Augustus 
Steward,  Esq.,  is  an  enemy  to  the  liberties  of  America,  and 
an  object  of  the  resentment  of  the   public.      Ordered,  that 
the  same  be  publicly  advertised  on  the  morrow. 
"  By  order  of  the  Committee, 

''  George  Hicks, 

"  Chairman.^' 

Colonel  Steward  appears  not  to  have  receded  from  the 
position  thus  rashly  and  boldly  taken ;  and  from  that 
moment,  advertised  and  regarded  as  an  enemy  to  the 
liberties  of  America,  his  career  was  decided,  and  took  a 
downward  turn,  ending  a  few  years  after  in  a  decline  of 
fortune,  a  broken  spirit,  the  confiscation  of  his  estate,^  and 
a  premature  close  of  his  life. 

Another  case  also  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Com- 
mittee, and  seemed  for  the  time  at  least  to  have  been 
happily  disposed  of. 

"  In  Committee  of  Observation. 

"  St.  David's  Parish,  August  8th,  1775. 
"  Mr.    John    Mitchell   having   signed   the   under- written 
advertisement,  it  was  ordered  that  the  same  be  immediately 
published  in  the  several  Gazettes  of  this  Province. 
''  By  order  of  the  Committee, 

"  Henry  William  Harrington, 

"  Chairman. ^^ 

"  St.  David's  Parish,  August  8th,  1775.    ' 

"  Whereas,  I,  John  Mitchell,  of  Meldrum,  in  the  said 
parish,  merchant,  having  sent  three  judgment  bonds  to 
Thomas  Phepoe,  Esq.,  to  be  by  him  entered  up,  and  having 
received  three  executions  of  the  said  gentleman  in  May 
last,  one  of  which  has  been  since  personally  served  by  the 
Sheriff  on  John    and    Bartholomew    Hodges,  and  one  other 


*  His  estate  was  relieved  from  the  penalties  of  confiscation,  as  will  be  seen 
hereafter. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    OLD    CHEKAWS.  239 

on  Enoch  James,  contrary  to  tlie  Resolves  of  the  first  ses- 
sion of  the  Provincial  CougTcss,  for  which  I  am  truly  sorry, 
and  humbly  ask  pardon  of  the  said  Congress,  and  of  their 
constituents,  sincerely  promising  never  to  act  in  the  least 
contrary  to  the  Resolves  or  orders  of  the  Honorable  Conti- 
nental Congress,  or  of  our  Provincial  Congress,  being  fully 
convinced  that  every  friend  to  America  ought  religiously  to 
observe  the  Resolves  and  Orders  of  the  said  Congress  and 
Councils. 

"  Given  under  my  hand,  the  day  and  year  above  written. 

"  JOHX   JMlTCHELL.""^ 

Notwithstanding  this  timely  warning  aud  seemingly 
penitent  resolve,  Mr.  Mitchell,  though  never  in  arms,  took 
sides  against  his  country,  in  the  contest  which  soon  came 
on.  His  estate  was  afterwards  confiscated.  It  will  be 
remembered,  that  the  notice  of  his  departure  from  the  Pro- 
vince, already  given,  was  in  March  of  this  year. 

A  new  general  election  for  members  of  the  Provincial 
Congress  was  appointed  to  take  place  in  the  Country  Dis- 
tricts and  Parishes  on  the  8th  of  August,  after  which  the 
Congress  adjourned. 

]\Iuch  of  its  authority  was  delegated  to  the  Council  of 
Safety  and  General  Committee. 

The  most  efiectual  methods  were  adopted  to  have  the 
Association  generally  signed  throughout  the  colony,  and  to 
require  from  non-subscribers  the  reasons  of  their  refusal. 
Every  effort  was  also  made  to  put  the  Province,  exposed  as 
it  was,  in  such  a  state  of  defence  as  the  exigences  of  the 
times  demanded.  The  more  effectively  to  carry  out  the 
recommendations  of  the  Congress,  volunteer  companies  were 
formed,  and  the  whole  Province  presented  one  unbroken 
scene  of  military  preparation. f 

On  the  3rd  of  August,  Wm.  Henry  Harrington  received 
a  commission!  as  Captain  of  a  Volunteer  Company  in  St. 
David^s  Parish. 


*  Gazette,  October  3,  1775.  f  S.  C.  Gazette,  June  23-30. 

;jl  The  commission  ran  as  follows,  viz  : — 
"South  Carolina. 

"In  the  Council  of  Safety. 
"  In  pursuance  of  the  power  in  us  vested  by  the  Provincial  Congress,  begun 


240  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  several  committees  in  the  interior 
were  actively  engaged  in  the  discharge  of  their  responsible 
duties.  In  August^  the  elections  took  place  for  members 
of  the  second  Provincial  Congress. 

In  September^  matters  having  become  so  threatening  in 
Charles-town  as  to  make  it  hazardous  for  the  Royal  Gover- 
nor, Lord  William  Campbell,  any  longer  to  remain,  he  took 
flight,  precij)itately,  on  15th  Sept.,  on  board  the  Tamer  sloop 
of  war,  and  dissolved,  for  the  last  time,  the  Commons  House 
of  Assembly  of  South  Carolina.  George  Gabriel  Powell  was 
then  the  member  for  St.  David^s.  Col.  Powell  had  taken 
an  active  and  prominent  part  in  the  proceedings  of  the 
Council  of  Safety,  and  as  one  of  the  Commissioners  ap- 
pointed to  supervise  the  military  works  then  in  progress 
about  Charles-town.  Attention  had  also  been  directed  to 
other  points  which  were  likely  to  be  exposed  to  the  assaults 
of  the  enemy,  from  whatever  quarter.  The  neighborhood 
of  the  upper  Pedee  was  not  overlooked. 

The  stand  early  taken  by  the  inhabitants  in  this  region, 
seems  to  have  developed  a  spirit  of  opposition  in  places  not 
very  remote,  and  to  have  led  to  the  opinion  that  they  would 
be  much  exposed  to  hostile  demonstrations  from  the  Tories 
and  others  on  their  borders.  The  feeling  already  prevailing 
in  some  of  the  neighboring  communities  of  North  Carolina, 
along  the  line  of  Little  Pedee,  was  well  known,  and  led  to 
the  apprehension  of  the  bloody  struggle  which  actually 
ensued  during  the  progress  of  the  Revolution,  and  deluged  the 
valley  of  the  Pedee  with  blood.  Hence  it  was,  that  some 
time  about  the  latter  part  of  October  of  this  year,  "  at  the 
request  of  Col.  Powell  and  others,  a  detachment  of  fifty  men 
was  sent  to  the  Cheraws,  to  garrison  a  fort  that  was  to  be 
built  there,  for  the  protection  of  the   families   of  the   well- 


to  be  holden  on  the  first  day  of  June  last,  we  do  hereby  appoint  Henry  William 
Harrington,  Esq.,  to  be  Captain  of  a  Volunteer  Company  of  Foot,  in  the 
militia  of  St.  David's  Parish,  Craven  County.  Dated  in  the  Council  of  Safety, 
the  third  day  of  August,  1775. 

Thomas  Hetwaed,  Jtjn.,  Raws.  Lowisdes, 

Thos.  Feegtjson,  Ben.  Elliott, 

Tho.  Bee,  Henet  Laueens, 

Chaeles  C.  Pincknet,  M.  Beewstee, 

J.  A.  HuGEE,  Jas.  Pabsons, 

Wm.  Williamson,  Aethue  Middleton. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  241 

affected,  against  tlic  Tories,  who  were  very  numerous  in  tliat 
part  of  the  country;  this  was  an  expensive  work  and  of  very 
little  consequence."* 

The  history  of  this  matter,  to  which  Moultrie  thus  refers, 
will  be  fully  explained  by  the  following  extracts  from  the 
Journal  of  the  Commons  House  of  Assembly.  No  allusion 
is  made  to  it  in  any  other  history  of  the  time. 

«  Stockade  Fort  at  Cheraw,  23rd  September,  1776. 
"  Message  from  the  President  by  the  Clerk  of  the  Legis- 
lative Council : 

"  Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen, 

"  Col.  Powell  having  represented  the  necessity  of 
a  Stockade  Fort  at  the  Cheraw  Hill,  I  gave  him  directions 
some  time  ago  (by  advice  of  the  Privy  Council)  to  have  one 
built  there.  But,  ou  receiAnng  from  him  the  petitions  and 
estimates  herewith  laid  before  you,  some  of  which  petitions 
prayed  that  it  might  be  built  at  that  place,  and  others  at 
Long  Bluff;  and  being  informed  by  several  inhabitants  of 
St.  David's  Parish,  that  a  fort  at  either  of  those  places  was 
altogether  unnecessary,  I  thought  it  proper  (the  time  of 
your  meeting  being  then  not  very  distant)  to  suspend  the 
matter  till  I  could  have  your  opinion  respecting  it,  and  I 
now  refer  this  subject  to  your  consideration. 

"  John  Rutledge. 

"  The  petitions  &c.  being  read,  it  was 

"  Ordered,  that  the  message,  with  the  papers  accom- 
panying the  same,  be  referred  to  a  committee.  And  they 
are  referred  to  j\Ir.  Harrington,  Major  Hicks,  Mr.  Pegues, 
Capt.  Withers,  Capt.  White,  Mr.  Young,  and  Capt.  Tra- 
pier.^'t 

"  25th  September,  1776. 
"  Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen, 

"  I  send  you   some   other   petitions   which   have 


*  Moultrie's  "  Memoirs  of  the  Revolution,"  vol.  i.  p.  92. 
f  "House  Journal,"  No.  40,  p.  145. 


242  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

been  lately  presented  to  me  relative  to  a  fort  at  the  Cheraw 
HiU. 

"  John  Uutledge. 

"  The  petitions  were  read  and  referred  to  the  same  com- 
mittee/^ 

On  the  following  day,  Mr.  Harrington,  from  the  com- 
mittee, reported  :  "  That  they,  having  examined  the  petitions 
for  and  against  building  a  Stockade  Fort  at  the  Cheraws, 
are  of  opinion,  that  a  fort  in  that  secure  part  of  the  country 
is  entirely  useless. 

"  And  are  further  of  opinion,  that  the  keeping  a  guard  of 
300  men  in  June  and  July  last,  and  of  50  men  in  August 
and  the  present  month,  at  tlie  said  place,  was  a  measure  not 
only  unnecessary  and  expensive  to  the  State,  but  detrimental 
and  destructive  to  the  crops  of  many  of  the  poor  inhabi- 
tants. They  therefore  recommend,  that  the  said  guard  of 
50  men  be  immediately  discharged. 

"  And  whereas  a  quantity  of  gunpowder  and  lead  was,  by 
order  of  Congress,  lodged  in  the  hands  of  the  Committee 
for  St.  David^s  Parish,  for,  the  use  of  the  militia,  part  of 
which  powder  and  lead  has  been  drawn  out  of  their  hands 
by  order  of  the  Commanding  Officer  : 

^'Your  Committee  therefore  recommend,  that  orders  be 
given  to  the  said  Commanding  Officer,  to  return  the  said 
powder  and  lead  to  the  aforesaid  Committee. ^^* 

The  report  was  ordered  to  be  taken  into  consideration 
on  the  morrow,  but  postponed  to  the  following  day,  Sept. 
28th,  when  it  was  taken  up,  and  being  read,  the  first  clause 
was  agreed  to  by  the  House. 

A  motion  was  then  made  and  seconded,  "  That  the 
further  consideration  of  the  report  be  postponed,  and  that 
a  message  be  sent  to  the  President,  requesting  tliat  his 
Excellency  will  be  pleased  to  lay  before  this  House,  the 
reasons  for  ordering  and  keeping  a  guard  of  300  men  at  the 
Cheraws  in  June  and  July  last,  and  of  50  men  in  August 
and  the  present  month,  at  the  same  place. ^""t 


»  "  House  Journal,"  No.  40,  pp.  164, 165.         f  Ihid.,  pp.  172,  173. 


HISTOKY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  243 

The  message  was  accordingly  sent  to  his  Excclleucyj  and 
the  fcllowiug  reply  made,  October  1st,  viz.  : — 

''  Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen, 

"  On  the  17th  of  May,  I  was  informed  by  a 
letter  from  the  Committee  of  Secrecy,  War,  and  Intelli- 
gence in  North  Carolina,  of  their  having  received  advices 
that  the  enemy,  who  then  lay  on  Cape  Fear  River,  had 
planned  a  descent  at  the  mouth  of  Little  River,  near  the 
borders  of  this  colony,  in  order  to  attempt  a  passage  into  the 
back  country  of  that  by  the  Lake  of  Waccamaw.  Having 
occasion  to  confer  with  the  Hon.  Col.  Powell  on  this  sub- 
ject, he  urged  very  strongly  the  absolute  necessity  of  build- 
ing a  Stockade  Fort  and  keeping  a  garrison  at  the  Clieraw 
Hill,  as  a  security  against  incursions  of  the  disaffected  about 
Cross  Creek,  and  for  preventing  or  suppressing  insurrections 
which  they  might  occasion  amongst  our  own  people,  near 
the  North  Carolina  line — events  which  might  be  feared, 
especially  if  the  intended  junction  between  the  British 
forces  and  the  malcontents  in  that  Province,  had  taken 
place. 

"  I  thought  so  much  attention  and  respect  due  to  the 
representation  of  a  gentleman  in  his  station,  who  was  well 
acquainted  with  that  part  of  the  country,  and  had  the  com- 
mand of  a  large  regiment  there,  as  to  lay  it  before  the 
council  for  their  advice,  which  I  did. 

"  He  attended  them,  and,  on  considering  what  he  offered 
on  this  head,  they  were  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  it  was 
necessary  to  erect  such  a  fort  and  keep  such  a  garrison,  in 
consequence  of  which,  I  gave  orders  for  that  purpose. 

"  John  Rutledge. 

"  Sept.  SOLh,  1776." 

On  the  next  day,  it  was  ordered,  "  That  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  to  whom  the  President's  Message  and  other 
papers,  relative  to  the  building  of  a  Fort  on  Cheraw  Hill, 
were  referred,  be  recommitted;  that  the  President's  Mes- 
sage of  yesterday,  upon  the  same  subject,  and  Col.  Powell's 
Letter,  be  referred  to  the  same  Committee ;  and  that  Major 
Hugcr,  ]\Iajor  Simmons,  Mr.  Cantey,  and  Capt.  Roger 
Smith,  be  added  to  the  said  Committee." 

r2 


244  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

On  the  4th  of  October,  Mr.  Harrington  made  a  report, 
■which,  having  been  amended  and  agreed  to,  was  as  follows, 
viz. : — "  That  they,  having  examined  the  petitions  for  and 
against  building  a  Stockade  Fort  on  Cheraw  Hill^  are  of 
opinion  that  a  fort  in  that  secure  part  of  the  country  is 
entirely  useless.  That  they  have  heard  Col.  Powell  on  the 
subject  of  keeping  a  garrison  at  Cheraw,  and  on  full  consi- 
deration of  the  matter,  are  of  opinion,  that  a  garrison  in 
that  part  of  the  country  is  unnecessary. 

"  And  whereas,  a  quantity  of  gunpowder  and  lead,  was, 
by  order  of  Congress,  lodged  in  the  hands  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  St.  David^s,  for  the  use  of  the  militia,  part  of 
which  powder  and  lead  has  been  drawn  out  of  their  hands 
by  order  of  the  Commanding  Officer,  the  Committee  do 
therefore  recommend,  that  orders  be  given  to  the  Command- 
ing Officer  to  return  such  part  of  the  said  powder  and  lead 
as  remains  unused,  to  the  aforesaid  Committee.^^^ 

Whereupon,  the  following  message  was  sent  to  the  Pre- 
sident, a  few  days  after,  October  18th,  viz. : — 

"  May  it  please  your  Excellency, 

"  This  House,  having  resolved  that  a  fort  and 
guard  at  the  Cheraws  are  unnecessary,  request  that  your 
Excellency  will  be  pleased  to  give  orders  to  discontinue  the 
building  of  the  said  fort,  and  for  the  discharge  of  the  guard 
now  there ;  and  that  such  part  of  the  powder  and  lead  which 
the  colonel  of  the  regiment  of  that  district  had  received 
for  the  use  of  said  guard  as  remains  unused,  be  delivered 
to  the  care  and  custody  of  the  Committee  for  St.  David's 
Parish.'^t 

Of  the  exact  locality  of  the  fort,  nothing  is  known ;  even 
the  knowdedge  of  the  fact  that  such  a  work  was  once  begun, 
appears  to  have  passed  away,  no  tradition  of  it  having  been 
handed  down. 

Many  volunteer  companies  of  militia  w' ere  organized  about 
this  time  throughout  the  Province. 

In  St.  David's  Parish  were  the  following,  in  September 
and  October  of  this  year,  as  shown  by  the  date  of   the  com- 


^  House  Journal,"  No.  40,  pp.  193, 19i.  f  Ibid.,  p.  221. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS. 


245 


Volunteer 
Corps. 


25th  Sept.,  1775. 


26tli  Sept.,  1775. 


missions,  though  these  were  subsequently  made  out.  The 
number  indieates  the  alacrity  Avith  which  the  inhabitants  on 
the  Pedee  responded  to  the  call  to  arms. 

"  Council  of  Safety,  Feb.  20th,  1776. 
"  The   following  commissions  were  made  out,  signed  and 
dated    as   here    entered,  for    officers  in   Col.  Poweirs  Regi- 
ment of  Militia,  St.  DaA'id^s  Parish  : — 

Captain  Abel  Kolb,  ]   . 

Ensign  Aaron  Daniel, 

ICapt.  John  Dozier, 
1st  Lieut.  Henry  Britton, 
2nd     „       Joseph  Graves, 
iCapt.  Luke  Prior, 
1st  Lieut.  DaAdd  Davis, 
2nd      „      Samuel  Smith, 
iCapt.  James  Ford, 
1st  Lieut.  Benjamin  Harlow, 
2nd      „      Charles  Moody, 
(Capt.  Luke  Whitfield, 
•j  1st  Lieut.  Isaac  Neavill, 
[Ensign  William  Johnson, 
I  Capt.  William  Davis, 
J  1st  Lieut.  Henry  Davis, 
(2nd      „      Wright  Wall, 

fCapt.  George  King, 
1st  Lieut.  Amos  Windham, 
2nd     „      George  Spivey, 
[Capt.  Thomas  Hardymau, 
■I  2nd  Lieut.  James  Galloway, 
(Ensign  Joseph  Hardymau, 


28th  Sept.,  1775. 


[Lieut.  Duncan  McRae, 
[Ensign  John  Sutton, 

Captain  Charles  Evans,  jun.,1 
1  st  Lieut.  Matthew  Holding, 
2nd      „      Elisha  Maa-ee,         ; 


Capt.  Thos.  Lide^s 

Company. 
2nd  Oct.,  1775. 


Additional  companies  having  soon  after  been  formed  in 
St.  David's  Parish,  their  officers  were  nominated   and  ap- 


246  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

pointed  by  tlie  Provincial  Congress  on  16tli  of  November  ; 
and  on  the  30th  their  commissions  were  applied  for  and 
granted^  as  follows^  viz.  : 

"  Daniel  Britton,  1st  Lieut.,  ]    Of  Capt.  Thos.  Port's 

Richard  Reynolds^  2nd  Lieut.,  ^Company  of  Volauteers 

John  Witherspoon,  Ensign,  )   in  St.  David's  Parish. 

John  Kimbrough,  Esq.,  Capt.,  \    ^r.        ,,       ^ 
c,          1   ,1     .         T   .  X  •     ,  Oi  another  Companv 

oamuel  Benton,  1st  Lieut.,  /.  -tr  i      ,  •      i  ' 

T  T^    •  1  .    ^    1  T  •     ,  r  or   Volunteers  m  the 

James  Knight,  2nd  Lieut.,  f  ^^.^  ^^^.^^ 

William  Standard,  Ensign,  j 

John  Blakeney,  Esq.,  Capt.,  \    r^n         ,,       ^ 

T  1      Ti         T 1      T   /t  •     7  Ui  another  Company 

John  Reynolds,  1st  Lieut.,  r>  -.r  i      ,          •         • "; 

mu            i^T  iK/r            ojT-i.  ro*   Volunteers  m  said 

Ihomas  McManess,  2nd  Lieut.,  P   .•  i  " 

John  Ewbank,  Ensign,  j 

On  the  23rd  of  January  following,  Thomas  Williamson 
was  Commissioned  Captain  in  Colonel  PowelFs  Regiment  ; 
and  on  2nd  February,  Maurice  Murphy  was  also  Commis- 
sioned Captain  in  the  same  Regiment."^ 

Thus  thoroughly  and  extensively  organized  were  the  in- 
habitants of  St.  David's  Parish  at  this  early  period  for 
military  service.  Along  the  river,  and  from  the  extreme 
upper  parts  of  Lynchers  Creek  to  the  neighborhood  of  its 
mouth,  did  the  spirit  of  volunteering  extend.  The  people 
were  roused  to  the  highest  pitch  of  patriotic  ardor. 

Some  dissatisfaction,  however,  had  existed  among  the 
volunteer  companies  soon  after  their  organization  in  Sep- 
tember, owing  probably  to  the  fact,  that  their  services  were 
not  at  once  accepted,  and  their  officers  commissioned.  And 
hence,  doubtless,  the  action  of  the  Council  of  Safety,  as  it 
has  been  given.  About  this  time.  Captain  Samuel  Wise,  of 
the  Regiment  of  Rangers,  was  induced,  for  some  reason,  to 
resign  his  commission,  as  appears  from  the  following 
letter  : — 

"  To  the  Honorable,  the  Council  of  Safety. 

"  Honorable  Gentlemen, — I  am  extremely  sorry  any  in- 


*  The  lists  of  Commissions  here  given,  were  taken  from  manuscript  papers 
of  the  Council  of  Safety,  known  as  the  "  Laurens  Papers,"  now  in  possession  of 
the  Historical  Society  of  South  Carolina,  and  kindly  shown  to  the  author  by  F. 
A.  Porcher,  Esq.,  corresponding  secretary. 


HISTORY   OF    THE   OLD    CIIERAWS.  247 

cident  sliould  have  arisen  that  Avould  oblige  me  to  send  the 
commission  you  were  pleased  to  honor  me  with  unto  Mr. 
Drayton  ;  for^  having  entered  into  the  service  with  a  heart 
full  of  zeal  for  the  legal  freedom  of  myself  and  fellow  sub- 
jects of  this  Province  in  particular,  and  the  constitutional 
rights  of  America  in  general ;  so,  nothing  less  than  being 
dishonored  by  a  suspicion  of  want  of  integrity  to  the  great 
cause  of  constitutional  liberty,  would  have  induced  me  to 
have  taken  this  step;  and  I  hope  your  Honors  will  be 
pleased  to  consider  the  bitterness  of  my  feelings,  when  Mr. 
Draj^ton  refused  to  tell  me  the  name  of  the  man  who  had 
thus  disgraced  me.  But,  as  my  friends  here  seem  to  think 
that  I  have  been  rather  hasty,  if  your  Honors,  too,  should 
be  of  that  opinion,  I  shall  be  exceedingly  grieved  ;  for  it 
was  never  my  intention  to  give  the  least  offence,  and  do 
beg  leave  to  submit  myself  and  cause  to  your  Honors'  judg- 
ment. 

"  I  am,  with  great  respect, 

"  Your  Honors'  most  obedient, 

"  humble  Servant, 
"  Samuel  Wise."'^ 

"  Charles-town,  Sept.  30th,  1775." 

Captain  Wise  was  a  man  of  the  nicest  sense  of  honor, 
and  doubtless  betrayed  a  morbid  sensibility  under  the  wound 
which  had  been  unjustly  inflicted  on  his  reputation.  He 
was  induced  to  withdraw  his  resignation,  probably  by  the 
Council  of  Safety,  as  well  as  his  immediate  friends,  and 
continued  in  the  active  service  of  his  country,  for  which  he 
was  eminently  fitted.  The  Provincial  Congress  was  called 
together  on  the  1st  of  November.  The  former  members  for 
St.  David's  were  re-elected,  and  with  the  exception  of 
Claudius  Pegues,  Esq.,  appeared  and  took  their  seats. 

Col.  Powell  was  also  elected  a  member  for  St.  Philip's 
and  St.  Michael's,  but  declined  that  position  in  favour  of  St. 
David's  Parish,  Mr.  Harrington  was  one  of  a  committee 
appointed  to  report  upon  the  state  of  the  colony,  and  the 
proper  measures  which  ought  to  be  pursued  for  putting  the 


Manuscript  papers  of  Council  of  Safety. 


248  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

same  into  tlie  best  posture  of  defence.  On  Monday,  Nov. 
6th,  it  was  ordered,  "  That  Mr.  President  be  requested  to 
direct  Lieut. -Col.  Thompson,  of  the  Rangers,  to  send  Isaac 
Jordan,  a  private  in  his  Regiment,  charged  with  horse- 
stealing and  breaking  gaol  at  Cheraws,  and  cause  him  to  be 
delivered  to  the  Sheriff  of  CheraMs  Distinct,  or  his  deputy, 
or  to  the  keeper  of  the  Common  Gaol." 

A  new  Council  of  Safety  having  been  elected  on  16tli  Nov., 
a  committee  was  appointed  the  following  day,  of  which 
Mr.  Harrington  was  one,  to  "  consider  of,  and  bring  into 
one  view,  the  powers  and  authorities  proper  to  be  vested  in 
the  Council  of  Safety.''"'^  On  the  28th  of  Nov.,  it  was 
resolved,  "  That  the  Committee  of  St.  David^s  Parish  be 
authorized  to  purchase  what  lead  they  can  get,  on  the 
public  account.'^  On  the  same  day  it  was  also  resolved, 
"  That  600  men  from  Col.  PowelFs  Regiment  should  forth- 
with be  detached,  and  directed  to  rendezvous  at  the  Couga- 
rees.^^      And  the  following  letter  was  thereupon  written  : — 

"  By  authority  of  the  Congress. 

"Charles-town,  Nov.  25th,  1775. 
"  Sir, — You    are    hereby  ordered,    with  all   possible    de- 
spatch,  to  detach  six  hundred  men   of  your  Regiment,    to 
rendezvous   at   the  Congarees,  to   act   under  the   orders   of 
Col.  Richardson. 

"  I  am,  Sir, 

"  Your  most  humble  servant, 

"  Wm.  Henry  Drayton, 
"  To  Col.  Powell."  "  President. 

This  action  was  taken  in  consequence  of  difficulties  at 
Ninety-six.  There  had  been  a  recent  skirmish  between 
Patrick  Cunningham,  Jacob  Bowman,  and  others,  on  the 
one  side,  and  a  body  of  militia  under  the  charge  of  Andrew 
Williamson,  on  the  other. 

On  the  27th  of  Nov.,  Col.  Richardson  was  in  camp  at 
the  Congarees,  and  about  1st  Dec.  crossed  Saluda  river  into 
the  Dutch  Fork.    A  few  days  after,  he  was  joined  by  several 


*  Drayton's  "  Memoirs,"  vol.  ii.  pp.  61-77 ;  and  "  Journal  of  the  Congress." 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  249 

(letacliments.  After  advancing  southward  and  eflfecting  the 
object  of  the  expedition,,  the  troops  were  disbanded  the 
Latter  end  of  December,  and  returned  to  their  respective 
homes.  A  detachment  had  started  from  Pedee  under 
Major  George  Hicks,  but  was  stopped  by  the  following 
order  from  the  Council  of  Safety  : — 

"  Wednesday  evening,  Dec.  20th,  1775. 
"  Gent., — Intelligence  which  we  have  just  received  from 
Col.  Richardson,  induces  us  to  believe  that  he  will  be  able 
to  accomplish  the  business  upon  which  he  was  ordered  by 
the  Congress,  without  further  aid;  and  as  Col.  Powell  has 
intimated,  that  the  detachment  from  his  regiment  was 
either  not  marched,  or  if  marched,  might  soon  be  overtaken 
by  orders  :  We  desire  you  will  take  tbe  proper  steps  for  re- 
calling or  stopping  the  detachment,  and  directing  the  officer 
in  command  to  dismiss  the  men  until  further  orders — after 
which,  he  will  transmit  a  proper  account  of  the  time  of 
actual  service  performed  by  that  detachment. 

"  By  Order  of  the  Council  of  Safety, 
"  Henry  Laurens, 

"  President.'^ 

"  On  Colony  Service. — Recommended  to  the  Committee 
of  George-town  to  be  forwarded  if  needful  by  express.  The 
expense  will  be  paid  by  the  Council  of  Safety. 

"  To  the  Committee  of  the  Parish  of  St.  David.'' 

On  the  29th  of  Nov.  it  was  ordered  by  the  Congress, 
"  That  three  hundred  pounds  weight  of  gunpowder  be 
delivered  out  of  the  public  stock,  reserved  for  the  aid  and 
defence  of  this  colony,  to  the  order  of  the  Committee  of 
St.  David's  Parish,  to  be  distributed  among' such  of  the  men 
in  Col.  Powell's  Regiment  as  are  unprovided,  to  be  by  them 
reserved  for  public  uses  only." 

One  of  the  chief  difficulties  now  was  to  get  ammunition 
as  it  was  wanted,  such  was  the  limited  supply.  After  a 
Session  of  the  most  important  and  decided  character,  the 
Congress  adjourned,  November  29th.  The  die  was  cast. 
The  struggle  had  begun.     The  people  were  everywhere  in 


*  "  Laurens  Papers"  of  Historical  Society  of  So.  Ca. 


250  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

arms.  The  selfish,  it  is  said,  among  the  merchants  and' 
planters,  whose  gains  were  lessened  by  the  cessation  of 
trade,  wished  for  the  return  of  business ;  but  the  main  body 
of  both  classes  most  heartily  concurred  in.  the  popular 
measures.  No  revolution  was  ever  effected  with  greater 
unanimity,  or  with  more  order  and  regularity. 

A  great  majority  of  the  people  determined  to  sacrifice 
ease,  pleasure,  and  fortune,  and  to  risk  life  itself  to  obtain 
permanent  security  for  American  rights. 

They  believed  their  liberties  to  be  in  danger.  Roused  by 
this  apprehension,  they  were  animated  to  the  most  self- 
denying  exertions.'^      Such  was  the  feeling  on  the  Pedee. 

With  very  few  exceptions,  the  intelligent  and  influential 
inhabitants  were  the  ardent  friends  of  their  country.  They 
had  already  taken  a  consj)icuous  stand,  and  to  every  appeal 
in  behalf  of  liberty  had  made  a  hearty  response. 

Peculiarly  exposed  to  the  worst  of  enemies,  they  were 
called,  from  the  first,  to  bear  the  heat  and  burden  of  a 
sanguinary  conflict  with  the  Tories  on  Lynchers  Creek  and 
the  Little  Pedee.  But  tried  to  the  uttermost,  they  never  de- 
spaired. Among  the  first  to  make  a  public  declaration  of 
their  rights,  tliey  were  among  the  last  to  lay  down  their 
arms,  when  further  resistance  seemed  more  than  futile,  and 
for  a  time  overpowered,  not  conquered,  they  were  forced  to 
take  protection,  but  only  to  throw  off  every  vestige  of  sub- 
mission, and,  with  the  returning  hope  of  liberty,  to  submit 
to  the  oppressor  no  more. 


*  "  Ramsay,"  vol.  i.  p.  79. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS.  251 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Opening  of  the  year  1776 — Cliarlos-town  thi-eatened — Council  of  Safety  writes 
to  Major  M'Intosli— Response  from  Pedoe— Difficulties  in  Civil  Administra- 
tion— William  Strother  writes  to  Council  of  Safety — The  Council  provides 
ammunition  for  St.  David's — The  Congress  meets — Mr.  Harrington's  return 
as  to  memher  in  place  of  Claudius  Pegues — Action  of  Congress — Payments 
ordered  to  certain  persons  in  St.  David's — Congress  takes  action  as  to  a 
"  form  of  government  " — Other  proceedings — Pay  to  Major  Hicks  refused 
— Additional  forces  raised — Major  M'Intosli  elected  Lieutenant-Colonel — 
"  Form  of  government "  adopted — Officers  elected,  and  appointments  for 
St.  David's — Colonel  Powell  and  Speaker  Parsons'  address  to  the  President 
— Colonel  Powell  elected  assistant-judge — Declines — Address  of  Baptist 
Churches,  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Hart  and  Winchester  to  Vice-President  Laurens 
— His  reply — Courts  opened — Presentments  of  grand  jury  of  Cheraws— 
Whigs  and  Tories — Latter  compared  with  Loyalists — Conflict  with  Tories 
on  Pedee — Committee  of  St.  David's  continues  to  meet — Abel  Kolb — His 
character — David  Williams  dies— Major  Wise  on  Sullivan's  Island — Letters 
to  Henry  William  Harrington — Captain  Harrington  at  Haddrell's  Point — 
Prisoners  sent  to  gaol  of  Cheraws  District — Election  of  two  members  from 
St.  David's  to  Assembly — Charges  against  Colonel  Powell — His  letter  on 
subject — Action  of  Assembly — Affair  dropped — Salt  provided  for  St.  David's 
— Act  passed  as  to  places  of  election  for  the  parish — First  courts  after  Declara- 
tion of  Independence — Chief  Justice  Drayton's  charge  in  Charles-town — 
Presentments  of  grand  jury  of  Cheraws — Reflections  on  same — Quiet 
restored — Commerce  revives — Death  of  Arthur  Hart — Letter  of  Major 
Wise — Member  elected  for  St.  David's — Educational  wants  sorely  felt. 

The  year  1776  T^as  ushered  in  luider  the  most  threatening- 
aspects  for  the  Province.  In  the  early  part  of  January,  the 
inhabitants  of  Charles-town  apprehended  an  attack  by  sea. 
The  Council  of  Safety  acted  with  the  utmost  decision. 
Having  made  arrangements  with  Colonel  Moultrie  for  pro- 
tecting the  town,  attention  was  turned  to  the  subject  of 
collecting  an  adequate  militia  force  from  the  country. 
Though  the  enemy  soon  after  withdrew,  the  apprehension 
of  an  attack  still  -continued,  and  the  more  solicitude  was 
felt  as  the  militia  came  in  slowly.  The  following  letter  from 
the  Council  of  Safety  to  Major  Alexander  M'Intosli,  at  this 
alarming  juncture,  shows  the  state  of  feeling  in  Charles-town. 

"  In  Council  of  Safety. 

"  Charles-town,  Jan.  13th,  1776. 
"  Sir, — Three  ships  of   war    appear   at  anchor  near  our 
Bar,  and  will  probably  come  within  to-morrow. 


252  HISTORY   OF   THE   OLD   CHERAWS. 

"  One,  said  by  a  lieutenant  who  lias  been  in  a  10  oar'd 
barge  as  high  as  Rebellion  Road,  and  spoke  from  Fort 
Johnson,  the  crew  of  which  passed  upon  him  for  simple 
fishermen,  to  be  of  50  guns — but,  we  believe  only  36 — the 
other  two  of  20.  They  have  detached  a  sloop,  probably 
for  the  Tamar  and  Cherokee.  The  lieutenant  was  greatly 
mortified  at  finding  they  were  not  here.  The  alarm  will  be 
fired  through  the  colony  to-morrow  (INIonday).  Your  pre- 
sence, and  the  presence  of  every  provincial  officer,  is  re- 
quired here.  You  will  therefore  repair  to  your  regiment 
with  all  possible  despatch,  after  giving  pressing  orders  to 
the  commanding  officer  of  Col.  PowelFs  Regiment  of 
militia,  to  detach  to  our  assistance  with  all  possible  expedi- 
tiouj  as  many  officers  and  men  as  will  voluntarily  come,  in 
small  parties  of  20  or  50,  as  they  can  be  collected. 

"  This  is  the  time  for  evincing  our  professions  and  de- 
clarations of  love  of  liberty  and  the  righteous  cause  of 
America.  Words  are  not  necessary  to  influence  those  who 
are  sincere,  to  fly  to  the  banner  of  their  country.  Order  all 
provincial  officers  you  may  meet  with,  to  their  duty  here 
immediately. 

"  By  Order  of  the  Council  of  Safety, 

''Henry  Laurens,  President."^ 

''  Major  M'Intosh.'' 

To  this  spirited  appeal.  Major  M'Intosh,  with  other 
officers,  and  many  of  the  militia  from  the  Pedee,  responded. 
Major  George  Hicks  went  down  in  command  of  a  detach- 
ment, and  Captain  Samuel  Wise  also  commanded  a  com- 
pany. On  the  6th  of  February,  it  was  said,  three  hundred 
volunteers  of  Richardson's  and  PowelFs  Regiments,  who  had 
been  down  on  duty,  being  wdlling  to  renaain,  were  kept  until 
the  1st  of  March,  the  rest  of  the  country  militia  being  dis- 
charged. This  was  the  first  important  military  service 
rendered  to  the  Province  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  Upper 
Pedee. 

In  the  present  unsettled  state  of  affairs,  serious  difficulty 
was  experienced  in  matters  of  ordinary  civil  transaction  and 


Manuscript  papers  of  Council  of  Safety. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  253 

adjudication.  The  waut  of  some  established  authority  was 
sorely  felt,  as  iu  the  managemeut  of  estates  and  the  case  of 
orphaus. 

The  following  letter  was  addressed  to  the  Committee  iu 
Charles-towu  on  this  subject,  from  St.  David's  Parish  : — 

"  January  11th,  1776. 

"  Gentlemen, 

"  On  the  death  of  sundry  persons  in  the  district 
where  I  live,  application  has  been  made  to  rae  to  know  how 
to  proceed,  or  how  tbey  should  obtain  Letters  of  Adminis- 
tration; and  not  knowing  Nvhat  has  been  resolved  by  the 
Congress  on  such  occasion,  I  beg  to  be  informed,  as  some 
of  the  orphans  must  suffer  greatly  in  their  estates  if  not 
shortly  secured. 

'■'  Your  answer  will  much  oblige, 

"  Your  humble  servt., 

"  Wm.  Strother.* 
"  To  the  Honorable  Council  of  Safety, 
Charles-town." 

The  Parish  of  St.  David's  was  not  yet  adequately  sup- 
plied with  war  stores,  and  the  Council  took  further  action, 
as  follows  : — 

"  Wednesday,  January  24tl],  1776. 

"  The  Congress  at  the  late  session,  ordered  three  hundred 
weight  of  gunpowder  to  be  issued  for  the  use  of  St.  David's. 
The  order  was  brought  to  us  yesterday  under  many  indorse- 
ments ;  as  we  think  it  will  save  trouble,  expense,  and  risk, 
we  desire  you  will,  upon  sight  of  the  order  which  we  have 
referred  to  you  for  that  purj:ose,  direct  a  compliance  with 
the  contents  from  the  public  store  of  gunpowder  under  your 
care,  and  transmit  the  order  to  us. 

"  By  order  of  the  Council  of  Safety, 

"  Henry  Laurens,  President. 
"  The  Committee  for  George-town.'^ 

No  time  was  lost  in  complying  with  this  direction,  as 
appears  from  the  following  receipt : — ''  Keceived  of  the 
Committee  at  George-town  three  hundred  pounds  weight  of 

*  Manuscript  papers  of  Council  of  Safety. 


254  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

gunpowder,  from  the  public  stock_,  by  direction  of  tlie  Council 
of  Safety,  for  St,  David^s. 

"  Aaron  Daniel.* 

"  George-town,  Jany.  26th,  1776." 

On  the  1st  February,  the  Congress,  which  had  adjourned 
29th  of  Nov.  previous,  met  again  in  Charles-town. 

On  the  3rd,  Mr.  Harrington  made  this  special  return, 
addressed  to  the  President : — 

"  Cbarles-town,  Feby.  2,  1776. 

"Sir, 

"  Claudius  Pegues,  Esq.,  one  of  the  six  deputies 
duly  elected  to  represent  the  Parish  of  St.  David^s  in  Con- 
gress, signified  by  letter,  addressed  to  the  Committee  of  the 
said  Parish,  that  he  declined  serving  the  said  Parish  in  Con- 
gress. He  delivered  the  letter  to  me  to  lay  before  the 
Committee,  who  were  not  to  meet  till  the  19th  of  last 
mouth ;  and  as  the  Congress  was  to  sit  on  the  1st  instant, 
I,  as  church  warden,  and  not  recollecting  the  resolve  of 
the  last  Congress  relative  to  elections,  advertised  the  23rd 
of  January  as  a  day  of  election  for  a  deputy  to  Congress 
instead  of  Mr.  Pegues,  when  it  appeared  that  William  Henry 
Mills  had  a  majority  of  votes,  of  which  I  acquainted  him 
by  letter. 

"  I  am.  Sir,  your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

"  Henry  William  Harrington. ^^ 

"  Whereupon,  it  was  resolved.  That  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress cannot  resign  his  seat  during  the  continuance  of  the 
Congress  in  which  he  took  his  seat  as  a  member ;  and,  there- 
fore, as  Claudius  Pegues,  Esq.,  could  not  decline  his  seat  in 
the  present  Congress,  the  election  of  William  Henry  Mills, 
Esq.,  as  a  member  of  Congress  in  the  room  of  Claudius 
Pegues,  Esq.,  was  null  and  void.^^f 

On  Tuesday  the  6th  of  February,  the  Council  issued  orders 
on  the  Treasury  for  the  payment  of  the  following  sums, 
among  others,  viz. : — 


*  Manuscript  Papers  of  Council  of  Safety. 
•)•  "  American  Archives,"  vol.  v.  p.  566. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  255 

£  s.  d. 
"  To  ]\Iajor  George  Hicks,  for  pay  and  rations 
to  the  detacliment  from  Col.  Powell's  Re- 
giment of  Militia,  ordered  to  join  Col. 
Richardson,  to  be  placed  to  account  of 
Col.  Richardson's  expedition  ....  8567  12  6 
"To  H.  W.  Harrington,  Esq.,  so  much  ad- 
vanced by  him  for  two   expresses,"^  from 

Charles-town 43     0     0 

"  To  Culviu  Spencer's  order  for  his  service  as 

messenger  to  the  Committee  of  St.  David's     50     0     0 
"  For  ferriage  of  Capt.  Wise's  Company  over 

Pedee,  to  John  Eddens 10     0     0" 

On  the  8th  of  February,  a  Committee  was  appointed  by 
the  Congress,  consisting  of  the  Council  of  Safety,  together 
with  others,  of  whom  Col.  Powell  was  one,  "  to  take  into 
consideration  the  following  resolution  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  passed  the  4tli  of  Nov.  last,  viz. :  '  Resolved,  that 
if  the  Convention  of  South  Carolina  shall  find  it  necessary 
to  establish  a  form  of  government  in  that  colony,  it  be  re- 
commended to  said  Convention  to  call  a  full  and  free  repre- 
sentation of  the  people ;  and  that  the  said  representatives, 
if  they  think  it  necessary,  establish  such  form  of  govern-- 
meut  as,  in  their  judgment,  will  bast  promote  the  happiness 
of  the  people,  and  most  effectually  secure  peace  and  good 
order  in  the  colony  during  the  continuance  of  the  present 
dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  the  colonies.'  "f 

A  few  days  after,  a  Committee  of  eleven  was  appointed 
to  prepare  and  report  such  a  plan  or  form  of  government  as 
would  best  promote  the  happiness  of  the  people. 

On  the  12th,  a  committee,  of  which  Mr.  Harrington  was 
one,  "  was  appointed  to  consider  and  report  upon  the  best 
method  for  promoting  the  manufacture  of  saltj^etre  in  the 
colony."J 

The  want  of  ammunition  began  to  be  sorely  felt,  and  the 


*  This  was  the  item,  as  a  credit,  in  the  account  of  Mr.  Harrington,  of  receipt 
for  poor  of  Boston. 

f  Drayton's  "  Memoirs,"  vol.  ii.  p.  I7l. 
J  "  American  Archives,"  vol.  v.  pp.  569,  570. 


256  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

necessity   became    more    apparent    daily   for    relying    upon 
themselves  for  its  production. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  a  motion  was  made,  '^  that  the 
Congress  do  order  payment  of  certain  expenses,  amounting 
to  234/.,  incurred,  by  a  detachment  of  militia  under  the 
command  of  Major  Hicks,  lately  marched  to  -this  town, 
for  camp  utensils  and  other  articles,  A  debate  ensued,  and 
the  question  being  put,  it  was  carried  in  the  negative.''^^ 

On  the  18th,  Col.  Powell  and  Cap.  Harrington,  with 
others,  were  placed  on  a  committee  to  report  ujjon  the 
militia,  its  division,  regulations,  &c.  This  important  su^bject 
urgently  demanded  attention.  The  haste  with  which  it  had 
been  necessary  to  de^dse  certain  measures  for  defence,  had 
involved  the  military  affairs  of  the  colony  in  more  or  less 
confusion. 

The  situation  of  Charles-town,  as  was  now  most  apparent, 
demanded  immediate  aid  from  the  country  for  its  protection. 
And  notwithstanding  the  difficulties  attending  s^^cl^  a  step, 
the  Congress  voted  on  the  19th  of  February,  that  1050  men 
of  the  country  militia  should  be  immediately  drafted  and 
marched  down.  And  three  days  after,  the  military  estab- 
lishment was  augmented  by  the  resolution  to  raise  two  Rifle 
Regiments,  one  of  seven,  and  the  other  of  five  hundred  men. 
The  field  officers  were  to  be  elected  by  a  majority  of  the 
ballots  of  the  whole  number  of  members  present  in  the 
Congress.  Of  the  first  Regiment,  Alexander  M'Intosh  was 
elected  Lieut. -Colonel. 

From  this  time  Col.  Mcintosh  was  engaged  in  constant 
service. 

On  the  5th  of  March  the  Committee  on  "  a  form  of 
Government'^  reported.  On  the  8th  the  Congress  resolved 
itself  into  a  committee  of  the  whole,  to  take  the  same  into 
consideration.  After  several  days'  deliberation  it  was  turned 
over  to  the  Congress  for  final  disposal ;  and  from  the  15th 
to  the  26th  of  March,  carefully  weighed  in  its  details,  well 
adjusted  in  every  part,  and  on  the  latter  day,  under  the 
title  "  of  a  Constitution  or  Form  of  Government,"  adopted. 
A  Legislative  Council  of  thirteen,  to  be  elected  by  ballot  . 


American  Archives,"  vol.  v.  pp.  569,  570. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  257 

from  the  members  of  AsscDibly,  for  two  years^  was  substi- 
tuted iu  the  plaee  of  the  "  Kiug^s  Privy  Council/'  as  for- 
merly^ the  Vice- President  being  ex-officio  a  member  and 
President  of  the  same.  The  legislative  authority  was  vested 
in  the  General  Assembly  and  Legislative  Council ;  both  of 
which  were  to  be  elected  every  two  years.  The  General 
Assembly  was  to  consist  of  the  like  number  of  members  as 
the  Congress  had  done^  each  district  and  parish  having  the 
same  representation  as  was  then  present. 

This  gave  to  St.  David's  six  members.  Justices  of  the 
Peace  were  to  be  nominated  by  the  General  Assembly^  and 
commissioned  by  the  President  and  Commander-in-Chief, 
during  pleasure.  All  other  judicial  officers  were  to  be 
elected  by  joint  ballot  of  the  Assembly  and  Council. 

All  persons  chosen  and  appointed  to  any  office,  or  place 
of  trust,  before  entering  upon  the  execution  of  the  same,  were 
to  take  the  following  oath,  viz.  :  "  I,  A.B.,  do  swear  that  I 
will  to  the  utmost  of  my  power,  support,  maintain,  and 
defend  the  Constitution  of  South  Carolina,  as  established  by 
Congress  on  the  26th  day  of  March,  One  Thousand  Seven 
Hundred  and  Seventy-six,  until  an  accommodation  of  the  diffi- 
culties between  Great  Britain  and  America  shall  take  place, 
or  I  shall  be  released  from  this  oath  by  the  Legislative 
authority  of  the  said  colony,  so  help  me  God."  Such  were 
some  of  the  features  of  the  "  Constitution,  or  Form  of 
Government,"  thus  adopted.  An  accommodation  of  the 
difficulties  with  the  Mother  Country  seemed  yet  to  be  looked 
forward  to  as  an  event  not  impossible ;  and  therefore  this 
provision  made  for  regulating  the  affairs  and  promoting 
the  welfare  of  the  Province  was  so  far  only  temporary.  On 
the  day  of  its  adoption,  the  election  of  officers  took  place 
under  the  Constitution.  George  Gabriel  Powell,  one  of  the 
members  for  St.  David's,  was  made  Speaker  of  the  Legisla- 
tive Council.  Henry  William  Harrington  was  elected  Sheriff 
for  Cheraws  District,  and  the  following  gentlemen  were 
nominated  as  suitable  persons  to  fill  the  office  of  Justices  of 
the  Peace  for  the  same,  viz. : 

John  Alran,  Henry  Wra.  Harrington,  George  Pawley, 
William  Dewitt,  Arthur  Hart,  Claudius  Pcgues,  Elias 
DuBosCj  John  Kimbrough,  William  Pegues,  Charles  Evans, 


258  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Thomas  Licle^  Pliilip  Pledger,  Robert  Gray,  Wm.  Henry 
Mills,  and  George  Hicks.* 

In  the  present  critical  state  of  public  affairs,  this  office 
was  one  of  much  importance,  and  hence  men  of  intelligence, 
influence,  and  well-known  principle  were  selected  for  the 
post. 

On  the  3rd  of  April,  Mr.  Speaker  Powell  and  James  Par- 
sons, Esq.,  Speaker  of  Assembly,  made  the  following 
address  to  tlie  President,  John  Rutledge,  Esq. 

"  May  it  please  your  Excellency  : 

"  We,  the  Legislative  Council  and  General 
Assembly  of  South  Carolina,  convened  under  the  authority 
of  the  equitable  Constitution  of  Government  established  by 
a  free  people,  in  Congress,  on  the  26th  ult.,  beg  leave,  most 
respectfully,  to  address  your  Excellency.  Nothing  is  better 
known  to  your  Excellency  than  the  unavoidable  necessity 
which  induced  us,  as  members  of  Congress,  on  the  part  of 
the  people,  to  resume  the  powers  of  Government ;  and  to 
establish  some  mode  for  regulating  the  internal  polity  of 
this  colony  ;  and,  as  members  of  the  Legislative  Council 
and  General  Assembly,  to  vest  you,  for  a  time  limited,  with 
the  executive  authority.  Such  constitutional  proceedings 
on  our  own  part  we  make  no  doubt  will  be  misconstrued 
into  acts  of  the  greatest  criminality  by  that  despotism  which, 
lost  to  all  sense  of  justice  and  humanity,  has  already  pre- 
tended that  we  are  in  actual  rebellion.  But,  Sir,  when  we 
reflect  upon  the  unprovoked,  cruel,  and  accumulated  oppres- 
sions under  which  America  in  general,  and  this  country  in 
particular,  has  long  continued ;  oppressions,  which  gra- 
dually increasing  in  injustice  and  violence,  are  now  by  an 
inexorable  tyranny  perpetuated  against  the  United  Colonies, 
under  the  various  forms  of  robbery,  conflagration,  massacre, 
breach  of  the  piddic  faith,  and  open  war — conscious  of  our 
natural  and  inalienable  rights,  and  determined  to  make 
every  effort  in  our  power  to  retain  them ;  we  see  your  Ex- 
cellency's elevation,  from  the  midst  of  us,  to  govern  this 
country,  as  the  natural  consequence  of  such  outrages. 


*  "  American  Arcliives,"  vol.  v.  p. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD   CHERAWS.  259 

"  By  tlie  sufFrug-cs  of  a  free  people,  you,  Sir,  have  been 
clioseu  to  hold  the  reius  of  Goverumeut ;  an  eveut,  as  honor- 
able to  yourself,  as  it  is  beneficial  to  the  public. 

"  We  firmly  trust,  that  you  will  make  the  Constitution  the 
great  rule  of  your  conduct,  and,  in  the  most  solemn  manner, 
we  do  assure  your  Excellency,  that,  in  the  discharge  of 
your  duties  under  that  Constitution,  which  looks  forward  to 
an  accommodation  with  Great  Britain  (an  event  which, 
though  traduced  and  treated  as  rebels,  we  still  earnestly 
desii'e),  we  will  support  you  with  our  lives  and  fortunes.""^ 

To  this  address  the  President  made  a  brief  and  happy 
reply.  After  putting  the  Government  in  operation  and 
transacting  other  important  business,  the  General  Assembly 
adjourned,  to  meet  the  first  of  October  following,  leaving 
the  administration  of  affairs  in  the  mean  time  to  the  Presi- 
dent and  Council. 

On  the  27th  of  March,  the  day  after  the  adoption  of  the 
Constitution,  Col.  Powell  was  elected  one  of  the  Assistant 
Judges,  but  requested  leave  to  resign,  and  giving  such 
reasons  as  were  satisfactory  to  the  House,  his  request  was 
granted.  It  was  the  second  time  this  honor  had  been  con- 
ferred upon  him,  the  Royal  Government  having  previously 
elected  him  to  the  same  position. 

Col.  Powell  was  highly  esteemed,  and  had  been  for  years 
prominent  in  the  afiairs  of  the  Province. 

That  he  should  have  persistently  retained  his  connexion 
with  St.  David's  Parish,  though  not  a  resident,  and  declined 
the  representation  of  such  Parishes  as  St.  Philip's  and  St. 
MichaeFs,  is  a  fact  of  which  we  can  give  no  explanation  ; 
unless  it  was,  that  having  become  interested  in  the  Upper 
Pedee  by  his  attendance  at  the  Bar  of  Cheraw,  and  the 
purchase  of  lands,  and  honored  with  the  confidence  of  the 
people  from  the  first,  a  feeling  of  gratitude  prompted  him 
to  remain  in  their  service  to  the  close  of  his  career. 

The  rising  spirit  of  liberty  and  the  present  alarming 
crisis  affected  all  classes. 

Religious  bodies  were  roused  to  take  a  decided  stand,  and 


Erayton,"  vol.  ii.  p.  26 i. 

s2 


260  HISTORY    or    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

by  their  encouraging    tones    of  approval^   to   stimulate  tlie 
public  men  of  the  day  in  their  efforts  for  the  country. 

The  following  address  is  expressive  of  the  feeling  that 
prevailed  : — 

"  To  the    Honorable    Henry    Laurens,  Esquire, 
Vice-President    of   the    Province  of   South 
Carolina. 
"  The  address  of  the  Baptist  Congregations  in  said 
Province. 

"  May  it  please  your  Honor, 

"  We  can  truly  say,  we  rejoice  in  the 
present  happy  form  of  government  established  among  us  ; 
and  beg  leave  to  assure  you.  Sir,  that  we  are  filled  with  the 
most  sensible  pleasure  on  your  Honor  being  chosen  Vice- 
President,  as  it  is  well  known  that  you  are  a  most  hearty 
friend  to  liberty,  and  have  managed  the  many  important 
trusts  committed  to  you  with  fidelity.  It  gives  us  joy,  that 
you.  Sir,  are  still  continued  in  the  important  service  of  your 
country  at  this  critical  juncture  ;  and  we  do  most  heartily 
congratulate  you  on  this  happy  occasion.  We  hope  yet  to 
see  hunted  Liberty  sit  Regent  on  the  Throne,  and  flourish 
more  than  ever  under  the  administration  of  such  worthy 
patriots ;  may  we  not  hope  that  the  time  is  come,  in  which 
our  rulers  may  be  men  fearing  God,  and  hating  covetous- 
ness,  a  terror  to  evil-doers,  and  a  praise  to  them  who  do 
well  !  We  bless  God  that  he  hath  begun  our  de- 
liverance ;  and  that  he  will  complete  it,  shall  be  our 
constant  prayer. 

"  And  now,  wishing  your  Honor  all  peace,  happiness, 
and  prosperity  upon  earth,  and  everlasting  happiness  above, 
we  subscribe  ourselves,  your  Honor's  most  obedient  and 
most  humble  servants, 

Oliver  Hart,  Pastor  of  the  Baptist 

Church,  in  Charles-tovrn. 
Elhanan  Winchester,  Pastor  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  at  the  Welch  Neck, 
on  Pedee. 
"  Signed  in  behalf  of  the  Baptist  Congregations 
in  general,  this  30th  day  of  March,  177 Q." 


HISTORY    or    THE    OLD   CHERAWS.  261 

To  tliis  INIr.  Laurens  replied  as  follo-«'s  : — 

"  Gentlemen, 

"  I  receive  your  address  on  behalf  of  the 
Baptist  Congregations  with  the  same  cordiality  of  affection 
in  which,  I  am  persuaded,  it  was  made,  although  it  becomes 
me  to  acknowledge,  that  you  have  done  me  an  honor  Avhich 
I  had  no  ground  to  expect. 

"  The  persecution  against  the  liberties  of  American  sub- 
jects, which,  immediately  after  the  death  of  his  late 
jNIajesty,  of  glorious  memory,  was  devised  at  the  Court  of 
St.  James,  and  which,  at  different  periods,  has  been 
revived,  rendered  it  necessary  to  make  occasional  and  suit- 
able opposition. 

"  Hence  the  appointment  of  Committees  in  every  town 
and  district  from  New  England  to  Georgia;  hence  the 
assembling  of  that  august  body,  the  Representatives  of  the 
Thirteen  United  Colonies,  in  Congress,  at  Philadelphia,  and 
of  the  Congress  and  Council  of  Safety  in  this  colony ; 
hence  also  those  numberless  humble  Petitions  and  Ad- 
dresses to  the  Throne,  and  to  both  Houses  of  Parliament, 
which  have  in  every  instance  been  most  ungraciously 
spurned,  and  treated  with  disdain  by  the  King  and  his 
Ministers. 

"  The  high  hand  with  which  that  persecution  hath  lately 
been  carried  on  by  imprisonments,  bloodshed,  confiscations, 
plunder,  and  barbarous  devastation  of  cities  and  towns  by 
fire,  hath  at  length  impelled  the  colonists  to  make  a  solemn 
appeal  to  the  King  of  kings,  and  to  resist  by  force  and 
arms.  One  obvious  measure  in  the  plan  of  our  enemies 
and  cruel  persecutors,  was  to  drive  the  peaceable  and  de- 
fenceless inhabitants  of  the  Colonies  into  a  state  of  confu- 
sion, by  depriving  them  of  the  benefit  of  legislation,  and  the 
ordinary  mode  of  representation  by  assemblies.  This  fact 
is  incontestal)ly  proved  by  those  repeated  prorogations  and 
dissolutions  which  blot  the  pages  of  every  journal  where  the 
King's  ministers  could  extend  and  exercise  their  master's 
prerogative. 

"  South  Carolina  had  in  an  eminent  degree  suffered  by 
this  species  of  revenge,  which  has  been  aggravated  of  late 


262  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

by  daily  menaces  of  attacks  by  British  soldiers  and  ships  of 
war,  by  instigated  insurrections  of  negroes  and  inroads  by 
savage  Indians ;  and  by  what  was  more  to  be  dreaded,  fire 
and  sword  in  our  very  bowels,  by  the  hands  of  false  brethren; 
in  a  word,  '  the  sword  without  and  terror  within,  threat- 
ened to  destroy  both  the  young  man  and  the  virgin,  the 
suckling  also,  with  the  man  of  grey  hairs/  But,  through 
the  special  protection  of  Divine  Providence,  a  happy  union 
of  the  principal  inhabitants  was  formed,  and  we  have 
hitherto  miraculously  escaped.  This  metropolis,  since  the 
late  Governor's  desertion,  has  been  kept  in  a  state  of  quiet- 
ness and  good  order  unknown  in  almost  every  former 
period.  After  long  suffering  and  forbearance,  the  people  of 
this  country,  seeing  the  noble  lord  who  had  been  sent  to 
be  their  Governor,  although  he  had  abandoned  his  post, 
still  continuing  in  this  and  the  next  neighboring  colony, 
exercising  and  encouraging  every  hostile  and  injurious  act 
against  them,  judged  it  indispensably  necessary  to  resolve 
upon  the  present  form,  as  a  temporary  expedient  for  govern- 
ment, imtil  an  accommodation  of  our  disputes  with  Great 
Britain  and  a  redress  of  grievances  can  be  obtained. 

"  I  had  the  honor  of  being  one  among  many  who  framed 
that  Constitution.  It  therefore  makes  me  happy  to  learn 
that  those  respectable  bodies,  the  Baptist  Congregations,  are 
satisfied  and  pleased  with  the  important  event.  I  esteem, 
as  equally  friendly  and  obliging,  their  particular  gratula- 
tions  upon  my  being  called  by  my  country  to  act  in  the 
honorable  station  of  Vice-President  of  the  Colony,  and  I 
accept  them  with  thankfulness. 

"  Let  each  man  among  us,  whether  in  the  State  or  in  the 
Church,  whether  in  public  or  in  private  life,  by  example,  by 
precept,  by  every  becoming  act,  persevere,  and  be  ready 
with  his  life  and  fortune  to  defend  the  just  cause  in  which 
God  has  been  pleased  to  engage  us. 

"  We  shall,  weak  as  we  are,  succeed  against  those  who 
have  assumed  to  themselves  the  powers  of  Omnipotence, 
who  trust  in  fleets  and  armies  to  determine  the  fight.  We 
shall  be  the  happy  instruments  of  establishing  liberty,  civil 
and  religious,  in  a  wilderness,  where  towns  and  cities  shall 
grow,  whose   inhabitants   to  the  latest  posterity  will   look 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  263 

back  to  this  happy  epoch,  and  celebrate  and  bless  the  me- 
mory of  this  generation.  In  order  effectually  to  accom- 
plish these  great  ends,  it  is  incumbent  upon  us  to  begin 
wisely,  and  to  proceed  in  the  fear  of  God ;  and  it  is  espe- 
cially the  duty  of  those  who  bear  rule,  to  promote  and 
encourage  piety  and  virtue,  and  to  discountenance  every 
degree  of  vice  and  immorality. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Reverend  Sirs, 
"  Your  faithful,  affectionate, 

'^  and  obliged  humble  servant, 
"  March  30th,  1776.  "  IIenry   Laurens.''^ 

''To  the  Rev.  Oliver  Hart,  M.A.,  Pastor  of  the  Baptist 
Church  in  Charles-town,  and  the  Rev.  Elhanan  Winchester, 
Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Pedee,  on  behalf  of  the 
Baptist  Church  Congregations  in  South  Carolina.^^ 

The  establishment  of  the  new  Government,  the  first 
organized  in  any  of  the  colonies,  inspired  fresh  confidence 
and  gave  increased  strength  to  the  union  of  the  i^eople  for 
the  defence  of  their  liberties. 

Order  followed  confusion,  and  a  uniform  conduct  in  those 
who  governed  took  the  place  of  the  uncertainty  and  capri- 
ciousness  that  had  prevailed  before.  The  State  and  District 
officers  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  their  respective  duties, 
and  the  courts  of  law,  which  had  l^een  suspended  for  nearly 
twelve  months,  were  opened  on  the  23rd  of  April  (1776), 
"  with  great  solemnity ;  to  the  infinite  joy  of  the  well- 
disposed,  and  the  discomfiture  of  those  whose  offences 
called  for  punishment."t 

It  was  on  this  occasion  that  Chief  Justice  Drayton,  in 
language  similar  to  that  he  had  held  eighteen  months 
before,  delivered  his  first  charge  to  the  Grand  Jury  of 
Charles-town  District. 

And  again  did  the  Grand  Jury  of  Cheraw  District,  par- 
taking in  the  general  feeling  of  enthusiasm  which  now 
prevailed,  give  expression  to  their  deep  convictions  as  to 
the  just  and  righteous  cause  of  their  oppressed  and  bleeding 
country. 

*  So.  Ca.  Gazette.  f  "  Drayton,"  vol.  ii.  p.  253. 


264  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

At  a  Court  for  said  district,  liolden  at  Long  Bluff,  ou 
Monday,  May  30th,  Mr.  Justice  Matthews  presiding,  the 
following  presentments  were  made  : — 

"  I.  When  a  people  born  and  bred  in  a  land  of  freedom 
and  wtue,  uncorrupted  by  those  refinements  which  effemi- 
nate and  debase  the  mind,  manly  and  generous  in  tlieir 
sentiments,  bold  and  hardy  in  their  nature,  and  actuated  by 
every  principle  of  liberality,  from  too  sad  experience  are 
convinced  of  the  wicked  schemes  of  their  treacherous  rulers 
to  fetter  them  with  the  chains  of  servitude,  and  rob  them  of 
every  noble  and  desirable  privilege  which  distinguishes  them 
as  freemen  ;  justice,  humanity,  and  the  immutable  laws  of 
God,  justify  and  support  them  in  revoking  those  sacred 
trusts  which  are  so  impiously  violated,  and  placing  them  in 
such  hands  as  are  most  likely  to  execute  them  in  the 
manner  and  for  the  important  ends  for  which  they  were 
first  given. 

''  II.  The  good  people  of  this  colony,  with  the  rest  of 
her  sister  colonies,  confiding  in  the  justice  and  merited 
j)rotection  of  the  King  and  Parliament  of  Great  Britain, 
ever  signalized  themselves  by  every  mark  of  duty  and  affec- 
tion towards  them ;  and  esteemed  such  a  bond  of  union 
and  harmony  as  the  greatest  happiness.  But,  when  that 
protection  was  wantonly  withdrawn,  and  every  mark  of 
cruelty  and  oppression  substituted  ;  when  tyranny,  violence, 
and  injustice  took  the  place  of  equity,  mildness,  and  affec- 
tion ;  and  bloodshed,  murder,  robbery,  and  conflagration, 
and  the  most  deadly  persecution  stamped  the  malignity  of 
their  intentions ;  self  preservation,  and  a  regard  to  our  own 
welfare  and  security  became  a  consideration  both  important 
and  necessary.  The  Parliament  and  Ministry  of  Great 
Britain,  by  tlieir  wanton  and  undeserved  persecutions,  have 
reduced  this  colony  to  a  state  of  separation  from  them,  un- 
sought for  and  undesired  by  her :  a  separation  which  now 
proves  its  own  utility,  as  the  only  lasting  means  of  future 
happiness  and  safety.  What  every  one  once  dreaded  as  the 
greatest  misery,  they  now  unexpectedly  find  their  greatest 
advantage.  Amidst  all  her  sufferings,  and  the  manifold 
injuries  which    have   been   done   her,  this  colony  was   ever 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  2G5 

ready,  with  her  sister  colonies,  to  ask  for  that  reconeiliatioii 
whieh  showed  every  mark  of  forgiveness  and  promise  of 
future  harmony.  But  how  were  they  treated  ?  Each  token 
of  submission  was  aggravated  into  usurpation  ;  humble 
petitions  styled  insults ;  and  every  dutiful  desire  of  accom- 
modation treated  with  the  most  implacable  contempt.  Cast 
off,  persecuted,  defamed,  given  up  as  a  prey  to  every 
violence  and  injury,  a  righteous  and  much-injured  people 
have  at  length  appealed  to  God ;  and  trusting  to  His  divine 
justice,  and  their  own  virtuous  perseverance,  taken  the  only 
and  last  means  of  securing  their  own  honor,  safety,  and 
happiness. 

"  III.  We  now  feel  every  joyfol  and  comfortable  hope  that 
a  people  coidd  desire  in  the  present  Constitution  and  form 
of  Government  established  in  this  colony :  a  Constitution 
founded  on  the  strictest  principles  of  justice  and  humanity  ; 
where  the  rights  and  happiness  of  the  whole,  the  poor  and 
the  rich,  are  equally  secured ;  and  to  secure  and  defend 
which,  it  is  the  particular  interest  of  every  individual,  who 
regards  his  own  safety  and  advantage. 

"  IV.  When  we  consider  the  public  officers  of  our  present 
form  of  Government  now  appointed,  as  well  as  the  method 
and  duration  of  their  appointment,  we  cannot  but  declare 
our  entire  satisfaction  and  comfort,  as  well  in  the  character 
of  such  men,  who  are  justly  esteemed  for  every  \'irtue,  as  in 
their  well-known  abilities  to  execute  the  important  trusts 
which  they  now  hold. 

"  V.  Under  these  convictions,  and  filled  with  these  hopes, 
we  cannot  but  most  earnestly  recommend  it  to  every  man, 
as  essential  to  his  own  liberty  and  happiness,  as  well  as  that 
of  his  posterity,  to  secure  and  defend  with  his  life  and  for- 
tune, a  form  of  government  so  just,  so  equitable,  and  promis- 
ing ;  to  inculcate  its  principles  upon  his  children,  and  hand 
it  down  to  them  unimpaired,  that  the  latest  posterity  may 
enjoy  the  virtuous  fruits  of  that  work,  which  the  integrity 
and  fortitude  of  the  present  age  had,  at  the  expense  of  their 
blood  and  treasure,  at  length  happily  effected. 

"  VI.  We  cannot  biat  declare  how  great  is  the  pleasure, 
the  harmony  and  political    union  which   now  exist   in  this 


266  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

district  affords  ;  and  having  no  grievances  to  complain  of, 
only  beg  leave  to  recommend  that  a  new  'jury  list'  be 
made  for  this  district,  the  present  being  insufficient. 

"  And  lastly,  we  beg  leave  to  return  our  most  sincere 
thanks  to  INIr.  Justice  Matthews  for  his  spirited  and  patriotic 
charge ;  at  the  same  time  requesting,  that  these  our  Present- 
ments may  be  printed  in  the  public  papers. 

"  Philip  Vledger,  Foreman. 

Abel  Edwards. 

John  Hewstis. 

Charles  M^Cal!. 

John  Wilds. 

Thomas  Lide. 

Martin  Dewitt. 

John  Mikell. 

Benjamin  James. 

Magnus  Corgill. 

Thomas  Bingham. 

Peter  Kolb. 

Benjamin  Rogers. 

Thomas  Ellerbe. 

Moses  Speight." 

These  spirited  Presentments,*  not  unmeet  to  be  placed 
side  by  side  with  those  which  had  been  made  before  by  the 
Grand  Juries  of  Cheraw  District,  were  republished  in  full 
in  England  the  following  winter. 

The  "harmony  and  political  union"  referred  to  as  existing 
in  the  district,  continued  throughout  the  Revolution  to  be 
strikingly  characteristic  of  its  inhabitants,  except  in  the 
outskirts,  and  in  the  case  of  a  few  individuals  here  and 
there  on  the  river. 

No  other  part  of  the  Province  was  more  united  in  patriotic 
feeling. 

The  distinction  of  Whig  and    Tory  took   its   rise    during 


*  They  appeared  in  the  "  Reniembrancer ;  or,  Impartial  Repository  of  Public 
Events.  Part  iii.  for  the  year  1776.  London,  1777."  A  copy  was  tirst  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  author  hy  Mr.  Hugh  Godbold,  of  Marion,  already  referred 
to ;  and  the  volume  containing  them,  with  others  of  the  series,  a  valuable 
collection,  was  afterwards  presented  to  the  author  by  Mr.  G. 


HISTORY    OF   THE   OLD   CIIERAWS.  267 

the  previous  year.  Both  parties  in  the  interior  country 
were  then  embodied^  and  Avere  oljliged  to  impress  provisions 
for  their  respective  support.  The  advocates  for  Congress 
prevailing,  they  paid  for  articles  consumed  in  their  camps ; 
but  as  no  funds  were  provided  for  discharging  the  expenses 
incurred  by  tlie  Royalists,  all  that  was  consumed  by  them 
was  considered  as  a  robbery.  This  laid  the  foundation  of  a 
piratical  war  between  Whigs  and  Tories,  which  was  pro- 
ductive of  great  distress,  and  deluged  the  country  with 
blood.  In  the  interval  between  the  Insurrection  of  1775 
and  the  yerfr  1780,  the  Whigs  were  occasionally  plundered 
by  parties  who  had  attempted  insurrections  in  favor  of 
Royal  Government.^ 

This  testimony  of  a  contemporary  writer  was  emphatically 
true  of  the  struggle  on  the  Pedee,  but  was  far  from  repre- 
senting all  that  marked  the  conflict  in  this  region.  The 
Whigs  of  Cheraw  District  were  subjected  to  frequent  pre- 
datory incursions  by  the  Tories  from  the  neighboring  parts 
of  North  Carolina  towards  Drowning  Creek  and  Little 
Pedee.  These  were  Scotch  settlements  chiefly,  and  were 
capable  of  sending  out  large  parties  to  plunder  the  patriotic 
inhabitants  along  the  valley  of  the  Pedee. 

There  were  undoubtedly  many  worthy  persons  among  the 
loyalists — men  who  were  actuated  by  noble  feelings  and 
generous  sentiments,  and  who  would  have  sacrificed  them- 
selves and  all  that  they  had  in  the  cause  of  the  King.  With 
the  mass  of  the  Tories  it  was  very  different.  They  acted  a 
despicable  part,  being  influenced  chiefly  by  motives  of  in- 
terest or  fear.  The  bloodiest  and  most  relentless  characters 
of  the  Revolution  were  found  in  their  ranks.  The  best 
illustration,  indeed,  of  their  character  was  furnished  in  the 
desperate  means  used,  by  way  of  retaliation,  to  which  the 
Whigs  were  not  unfrequently  driven. 

On  the  31st  of  December,  1775,  the  Rev.  Evan  Pugh 
made  this  entry  in  his  private  journal :  "  Called  at  Mr. 
Lide's,t  who  was  just  come  home  from  the  camp,  having 
been  against  the  Tories.^'' 


*  "  Ramsay's  Revolutiou,"  vol.  ii.  p.  269. 
t  Robert  Lide,  afterwards  kuown  as  Major  Lide. 


268  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

It  was  a  record  of  the  time  which  might  have  been  often 
made. 

The  Committee  of  Observation  for  St.  David's  Parish 
continued  to  meet.  On  the  4th  of  May,  Mr.  Pugh  says  : — 
''  Went  to  Abel  Kolb's'^  to  the  committee/^  Similar  entries 
are  found  in  his  journal  in  June,  August,  and  October  fol- 
lowing, and  for  some  time  subsequent.  Mr.  Kolb,  a  man 
of  retiring  disposition,  but  of  ardent  patriotism  and  fearless 
spirit,  was  now  coming  rapidly  into  notice.  He  appears 
not  to  have  had  the  advantages  of  education  possessed  by 
some  of  his  contemporaries.  This  circumstance,  together 
with  his  natural  modesty,  probably  kept  him  at  first  from 
taking  a  prominent  part  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  time. 
His  superior  qualities  of  head  and  heart,  however,  coidd  not 
remain  unknown  to  or  unappreciated  by  the  people.  With 
the  growing  exigences  of  the  times,  the  popular  instinct 
turned  at  once  to  those  who  were  fitted  by  nature  to  be 
military  leaders  during  so  stormy  a  period.  Of  these,  Abel 
Kolb  was  soon  to  take  a  conspicuous  place. 

On  the  1st  of  January  of  this  year,  Cheraw  District  lost 
a  worthy  and  useful  citizen  in  the  death  of  David  Williams. 
Cut  off  prematurely  in  his  thirty-sixth  year,  his  country 
could  illy  afford  to  be  deprived  of  his  services.  He  had 
been  added,  with  others,  the  year  previous,  to  the  Committee 
of  Observation  for  St.  David's.  His  untimely  end  was  much 
lamented. 

With  the  approach  of  summer  the  conflict  off  the  Bar  of 
Charles-town  drew  near.  Many  of  the  Whigs  from  Pedee 
responded  to  the  call  from  the  coast. 

Major  Samuel  Wise  was  in  command  of  troops  on  Sul- 
livan's Island,  and  engaged  with  all  his  enthusiastic  ardor 
in  the  preparations  made  for  the  approaching  struggle. 

On  the  7th  of  June  he  wrote  to  his  friend,  Henry  Wil- 
liam Harrington,  Esq.,  of  Pedee,  giving  some  account  of 
the  state  of  things  up  to  that  date. 

"  I  am  now,""  he  said,  "  at  the  lower  end  of  the  island 
with  210  men,  while  fifty  vessels  are  so  nigh  that  we  can 
see  their  men ;  and  since  I  began  to   write,  they  have  got 


*  Mr.  Kolb  resided  at  a  point  central  and  important. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEHAWS.  269 

under  way,  and  arc  apparently  intending  to  come  in.  It 
gives  me  pleasure  to  inform  you  our  men  are  in  the  highest 
spirits.  Let  the  event  be  what  it  will,  our  regiment  wishes 
to  engage.  The  shipping  are  within  random  shot,  and 
certainly  coming  in.      It   positively  gives  me   fresh  spirits.^^ 

On  the  22nd  of  June  he  wrote  again : — 

''  I  don^t  know  if  I  am  right  in  my  conjecture,  but 
I  do  conceive  the  longer  we  are  kept  in  the  face  of 
an  enemy,  the  less  we  dread  fighting  them ;  but,  as 
our  situation  here  is  looked  on  by  every  officer  in  our 
case  as  desperate,  and  that  we  must  certainly  fall  a  sacri- 
fice, I  expect  we  shall  either  fight  like  a  tiger  pent  up,  or 
take  the  marsh  for  it.  However,  our  officers  chiefly 
declare  the  first  will  be  their  choice,  and  that  they  would 
not  quit  the  island  were  they  certain  of  death.  But  it  is 
my  hope  that  our  Great  Creator,  who  has  apjjeared  so  evi- 
dently in  the  behalf  of  America,  will  not  desert  us,  though  I 
assure  you,  it  is  clear  to  me  we  cannot  prevent  their  landing 
Avithout  a  direct  interposition  of  heaven.  My  opinion  has 
been,  and  still  is,  that  they  wdll  land  on  the  lower  point  of 
this  island  from  Long  Island. 

"  They  have  two  pieces  of  cannon  mounted,  and  are  this 
day  mounting  three  more,  which  will  cover  their  landing  in 
spite  of  all  we  can  do. 

"  I  did  not  get  over,  however,  before  yesterday  morning. 
I  was  appointed  officer  of  our  advance-guard,  and  my  lieut. 
was  kind  enough  to  officiate  for  me  until  I  landed. 

"  Between  Long  Island  and  Sullivan's  there  is  at  low 
water  a  circular  sand  bar  or  island  about  200  yards  across. 
On  this  side  the  creek  is  not  fordable.  On  the  other  side 
I  am  told  it  is.  Here  I  went  with  a  canoe  yesterday,  with 
Lieut.  Smith,  and  walked  to  the  farther  side  of  the  sand- 
bar, and  was  there  within  shot  of  the  enemy.  I  took  one 
Regiment  to  be  Highlanders  and  the  other  to  be  Cornwallis' 
(common  slaves),  with  some  artillery.  After  I  returned. 
Smith,  with  Wm.  Jordan,  one  of  my  privates,  went  over 
again,  which  brought  on  a  small  skirmish,  seven  or  eight  of 
their  Highlanders  running  down  as  fast  as  possible  towards 
them,  with  a  view  of  getting  between  them  and  the  canoe. 
Smith  fired  at  them  without  effect.  Jordan  likewise  fired, 
and  his  man  fell,  but  whether  to  dodge,  or  because  wounded, 


270  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

I  know  not.  The  enemy  fired  fourteen  guns  without 
effect^  crying  to  Smith  in  Scotch,  '  Stop,  you  cowardly  ras- 
cal •/  on  which  he,  suiting  his  actions  to  his  words,  said,  I 
retreat  like  a  Guinea  Lion.  He  deigned  not  to  run,  which 
made  me  uneasy  for  him.  He  likewise  had  a  private  of 
the  artillery  with  him,  without  arms,  who  fell  down  at  every 
shot,  and  caused  much  laughter  to  the  enemy,  as  they 
thought  they  had  killed  him. 

"  "We  fired  five  shots  from  our  two  field-pieces,  which  were 
very  well  directed,  and  nearly  reached  their  main  body,  but 
did  no  damage. 

"  One  of  the  enemy^s  bullets  came  very  nigh  me.  I  really 
wished  to  engage  them,  the  more  so  when  I  found  them  to 
be  a  set  of  people  who  have  ever  been  friends  to  tyrants. 

"  The  enemy  have  just  now  sent  an  armed  schooner  oppo- 
site our  two  fi.eld-pieces  at  the  point  of  the  Island  (she  came 
down  the  creek  from  Dewees  Inlet),  and  anchored  her 
within  point-blank  shot  of  the  same.  On  which,  our  two 
field-pieces  are  just  ordered  to  be  removed.  Their  guns 
fight  under  deck,  consequently  our  rifles  cannot  touch  them, 
and  a  number  of  flat-bottomed  boats,  it  is  said,  are  follow- 
ing her,  in  which  we  are  ordered  to  the  point  of  the  Island. 
I  expect  their  next  movement,  after  landing  their  men,  will 
be  along  the  creek  to  the  bridge. 

"  I  have  sent  Bob  with  this  letter  and  the  gun  I  promised 
you.  I  am  rather  afraid  of  losing  him.  I  could  wish  him 
to  stay  with  you  a  day  or  two,  I  value  not  myself,  but 
want  not  to  hurt  my  child ;  and  from  the  enemy's  prepara- 
tion I  expect  our  fate  on  Sullivan's  Island  will  be  deter- 
mined in  two  days  at  most.  I  surely  think  Mr.  Chesnut 
will  come  down.  I  have  therefore  sent  on  my  papers,  for 
should  I  be  unfortunate,  you  will  want  them.  If  you  do 
but  escape,  my  dear  friend,  I  shall  be  well  satisfied,  for  I 
am  not  doubtful  of  your  care  of  my  child.* 
"  I  am  most  sincerely, 

"  Your  aflfectionate  friend, 

"  Saml.  Wise.'' 


*  This  was  an  only  child,  a  daughter,  afterwards  Mrs.  Ball,  who  was  sent  to 
England  to  be  educated.    Upon  the  death  of  Major  Wise,  his  executors.  General 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  271 

Under  date  again  of  Jnnc  27i\\,  lie  addressed  his  friend 
as  follows  : — 

"  Why,  my  dear  Sheriff ^'^  were  I  to  give  you  an  aceount 
of  our  little  skirmishes,  I  might  write  daily,  for  we  have 
had  it  these  two  days  ;  but  do  excuse  me  if  my  ability  is 
not  equal  to  my  inelination,  for  I  describe  it  the  best  I  can. 

"  On  Monday  morning  the  enemy  brought  an  armed 
schooner  within  seven  or  eight  hundred  yards  of  the  point 
of  the  island.  The  ensuing  night  we  carried  an  18-pounder 
and  two  field-pieces  to  the  point,  and  attacked  her  early  in 
the  morning,  and  out  of  eleven  shots  fired  at  her,  I  believe 
three  struck  her.  Finding  we  could  not  destroy  her,  the 
firing  was  discontinued,  and  at  eleven  o^clock,  about  twenty 
of  the  enemy,  seemingly  American  renegade  Tories,  came 
down  to  the  Oyster  Bank  with  clubbed  muskets,  and  took 
shelter  behind  it,  at  which  time  the  Indians  were  on  the 
return  in  a  string  from  the  point  of  Sullivan,  and  your 
humble  servant  was  walking  along  the  open  beach  to  the 
point  of  Sullivan.  At  this  instant  the  enemy  began  to  fire, 
and  aimed  their  shot  directly  at  the  Indians,  who  caused  us 
to  laugh  heartily  by  their  running  and  tumbling,  several  of 
tliem  whooping  and  firing  their  muskets  over  their  shoulders 
backward.  I  confess,  though  the  bullets  poured  round  me, 
I  laughed  against  my  inclination.  I  walked  up  to  our 
slight  breast-work,  where  I  sheltered  myself  and  happened 
to  be  the  oldest  officer.  The  enemy  really  aimed  well. 
Their  shots  went  excessively  nigh  us,  and  very  often  struck 
the  top  of  our  breast-work,  and  frequently  dropped  close 
over  it  within  a  few  yards  of  us. 

"  I  cannot  help  doing  justice  to  the  superiority  of  their 
musketry,  for  I  could  not  observe  that  our  shot  in  the  least 
affected  them  ;  and  I  believe  they  might  have  been  blazing 
away  at  us  yet,  had  it  not  been  for  our  artillery,  which  was 
loaded  by  Lieut.  Spencer  (a  brave  officer)  with  grape  and 
other  shot,  and  dislodged  them,  it  is  supposed,  with  the  loss 
of  two  or  three   men ;  but   this   is   only   supposition.      But 


Harrington,  and  Messrs.  Boulk  and  Hayne,  found  the  estate  nearly  insolvent. 
Mr.  Ball  was  not  satisfied,  and  brought  suit  against  them,  but  recovered 
nothing. 

*  It  will  be  remembered  Mr.  H.irrington  was  now  Sheriff  of  Cheraw  District. 


272  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

tliey  by  no  means  behaved  like  cowards^  for  they  turned  and 
fired  in  their  retreat,  and  gained  the  end,  I  suppose,  they 
desired,  to  haul  off  the  schooner  while  they  amused  us. 
Last  night  they  threw  up  two  entrenchments  behind  the 
Oyster  Bank,  and  attacked  us  with  howitzers,  field-pieces, 
and  musketry  from  the  same,  and  one  8-pounder  from  South 
Island.  Being  ordered  on  business  to  the  fort,  I  was  ab- 
sent at  the  time  of  the  fray ;  but  was  informed  by  every 
officer  the  firing  was  not  near  so  sharp  as  yesterday.  That 
of  yesterday  continued  incessantly  from  musketry  from  25 
to  30  minutes.  This  morning  it  was  much  longer,  but  very 
few  muskets  were  fired,  being  at  aljout  one  hundred  yards 
greater  distance.  Indeed,  on  our  side,  only  two  rifles  were 
fired,  and  the  1 8-pounder  about  three  or  four  times ;  after 
which  our  artillery  was  hauled  off,  and  are  now  placed  at 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  point  of  Sullivan^s  Island, 
where  the  hills  begin.  We,  fortunately,  had  nobody  killed 
or  wounded  either  day ;  but  had  blankets,  &c.,  shot  through, 
and  the  stock  of  a  gun  broke  in  a  man's  hand.  We  picked 
up  many  of  their  bullets,  for  they  fell  so  nigh  us  we  saw 
their  whiz  in  the  sand. 

"1  must  to  you  do  justice  to  Capt.  F.  Boyakin — (nay,  I 
am  in  conscience  bound  to  do  it) .  He  came  down  to  us  in 
the  very  hottest  of  the  fire  yesterday.  I  believe  there  were 
about  sixteen  to  twenty  guns  on  our  side.  The  enemy  are 
now  busy  improving  their  entrenchments. 

"  I  suppose  we  shall  have  another  brush  to-night  or  to- 
morrow. Several  of  our  people  have,  with  them,  mutually 
laid  down  their  arms,  and  walked  to  the  edge  of  the  creek 
and  conversed — a  proceeding  highly  criminal,  and  now  put 
a  stop  to.  The  Highlanders  in  these  conversations  always 
asked  after,  and  sent  their  compliments  to  their  country- 
men. They  likewise  frequently  give  us  scurrilous  language. 
Their  sentries  were  so  nigh  us  last  night,  that  we  could  hear 
them  hail  quite  distinctly,  and  their  drums  &c.  are  almost 
as  familiar  to  us  as  our  own. 

"  I  am  afraid  I  shall  have  some  .uneasiness  about  Bob. 
Our  field-officers  objected  to  my  having  so  much  pay  for 
him,  and  I  did  not  propose  taking  any  more  for  him  as  that 
was  the  case,   after   the   last   return,   which    was   the   20th 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  273 

instant.  But  he  certainly  was  a  slave  to  the  regiment,  and 
the  best  drummer  in  it.  He  is  consequently  now  missed 
and  inquired  after,  and  I  have  told  them  I  never  intend  to 
take  any  more  pay  for  him,  as  they  grumbled  at  it.  But 
they  tell  me  I  have  no  right  to  withdraw  him,  and  I  really 
think  their  reply  is  reasonable,  as  I  have  received  pay  for 

him.      You  know  the  number  belonging  to  J .    I  think 

there  is  really  great  risk  in  his  being  here ;  and  you,  as 
his  parent  by  adoption,  and  guardian  by  my  choice,  will 
do  as  justice  directs  you  about  him,  for  he  is  now  in  your 
hands. 

"  I  am,  my  dear  Captain, 
"  Your  ever  sincere  and  affectionate  friend, 

"  Saml.  Wise. 

"  P.S.  Remember  me  to  every  inquiring  friend,  particu- 
larly the  two  Mrs.  Pegues. 

"  N.B.  I  might  have  informed  you  that  a  report  prevails 
there  is  a  larger  fleet  off  than  that  already  here,  which  I 
believe  not ; — that  our  regiment  have  never  pulled  off  their 
clothes  by  night  since  we  left  Haddrell's  Point; — that  we 
have  been  constantly  iip  for  several  nights  past  from  ]2  or 
1  o^ clock  to  sunrise,  and  on  guard,  fatigue,  or  alarm  all  day. 
But  we  are  still  Rangers,  and  must  do  everything,  and  yet 
are  not  worth  our  rations,  though  masons,  &c.,  from  town, 
&c.,  say,  they  are  sure  we  may  easily  kill  five  hundred  of 
the  enemy  before  they  reach  the  fort.  Pretty  language  this, 
to  troops  they  despise !  Remember,  we  are  here  three 
hundred  and  ten  privates,  and  are  to  kill  five  hundred  by 
task  work.  Adieu  !  My  patience  bears  no  more ;  but  place 
me  where  they  will,  I'll  go.  I  hate  to  be  tasked.  We  are 
now  in  the  hands  of  Omnipotence,  and  to  this  must  we  look 
for  redress  through  our  own  endeavours,  and  not  to  our 
own  ability ;  and  may  the  Sovereign  of  the  universe  pro- 
tect and  defend  you,  my  dear  friend  !  I  might  have  told 
you  our  brave  Rangers  hauled  off  the  three  pieces  of  artil- 
lery to-day,  in  spite  of  their  musketry  and  bombs;  but  to- 
day they  were  Highlanders  that  engaged  us.  I  may  like- 
MJse  inform  you  a  large  vessel  is  this  instant  run  aground 
in  coming  over  the  bar.'' 

T 


274  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

This  letter"^  was  addressed  to  "  H.  W.  Harrington,  Esq., 
HaddrelFs  Point,  or  elsewhere/^  Captain  H.  had  come 
down  since  the  early  part  of  June,  in  command  of  a  com- 
pany of  volunteers  from  St.  David's  Parish,  and  was  now 
at  Haddrell's  Point ;  Major  "Wise,  as  it  appears,  not  having 
been  informed  of  his  arrival,  or  exact  locality.  He  did  not 
take  part,  however,  in  the  action  of  the  following  day, 
Friday,  28th  June — a  day  rendered  ever  memorable  for  the 
signal  victory  obtained  over  a  proud  and  powerful  foe  ! 

This  repulse  of  the  enemy  led  to  a  state  of  comparative 
repose  for  the  inhabitants. 

There  were  many  suspicious  characters,  however,  to  be 
looked  after,  and  not  a  few  had  to  be  confined. 

The  following  order  was  issued  soon  after,  viz. : — 

"  The  Sheriff  of  Cheraw  District  will  receive  and  detain 
in  the  Gaol  of  said  District,  Henry  Machie,  John  Champ- 
neys,  and  James  Carson,  whose  going  at  large  is  dangerous 
to  the  liberties  of  America  and  the  safety  of  the  colony. 

"  J.   RUTLEDGE. 

"  Charles-town,  August  2nd,  1776." 

A  few  days  after,  another  order  was  also  despatched  with 
reference  to  the  same  matter,  to  this  effect : — 

"  The  State  Prisoners  sent  to  Cheraw  Gaol  are  to  be 
treated  with  humanity  and  kept  only  under  the  restraint 
necessary  to  prevent  their  escape — their  confinement  being 
intended  only  to  secure   them  and   prevent   their   going  at 

^    ■  ''J.   RUTLEDGE. 

"  August  6th,  I776."t 

On  the  5th  of  August,  President  Rutledge  issued  a  Pro- 
clamation, requiring  the  Legislative  Council  and  General 
Assembly  to  meet  at  Charles-town,  on  Tuesday,  17th  of 
September,  for  the  despatch  of  divers  weighty  and  impor- 
tant  affaii's.      An    election  ha\dng  been  ordered,  to  fill  two 


*  The  letter  of  Major  Wise  forms  a  part  of  the  collection  of  General  Harring- 
ton, in  possession  of  his  son,  Colonel  H.  W.  Harrington,  of  Richmond  Countj, 
No.  Ca.,  who  kindly  gave  the  author  access  to  the  whole, 
f  Harrington  manuscripts. 


HISTOEY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEIiAAVS.  275 

vacancies  for  the  Parish  of  St.  David's,  Pleury  Wm.  Har- 
ringtou  and  George  Hicks,  Esqrs.,  were  duly  returned,  and 
with  Col.  Powell  took  their  seats.  Mr.  Pegues  appeared  on 
the  19th.  Col.  George  Pawley  and  Col.  INI'Intosh,  the  other 
members  for  St.  David's,  were  absent,  the  latter  doubtless 
being  engaged  in  military  service. 

On  the  30th  of  Sept.,  "  the  Speaker  laid  before  the 
House  a  letter,  which  he  had  received  from  George 
Gabriell  Powell,  Esq.,  and  the  same  being  read,  was  as 
follows  : — 

" '  Sir, — I  understand  there  are  charges  of  an  extraordi- 
nary nature  against  me,  laid  before  your  honorable  House. 
I  humbly  request,  therefore,  that  I  may  be  heard  in  my 
defence  by  a  committee,  before  any  resolution  is  taken 
thereupon,  trusting  that  I  shall  be  able  so  to  acquit  myself, 
as  to  stand  fair  in  the  opinion  of  my  country,  which  is 
above  all  things  desirable,  to 

" '  Honorable  Sir, 

"  ^  Your  most  obt.  humble  servant, 
"'Charles-town,  Sept.  30th,  1776.  "  '  G.  G.  PoWELL.' 

''  Whereupon,  it  was  ordered,  that  the  consideration  of  the 
said  letter  be  postponed.'' 

Of  the  character  of  the  charges  referred  to,  nothing  is 
known.  The  subsequent  records  of  the  House  make  no 
mention  of  the  matter;  and  the  probability  is,  that  having 
been  found  to  be  a  groundless  slander  or  the  work  of  some 
malicious  enemy,  no  further  notice  was  taken  of  the  affair. 
There  is  at  least  no  evidence  that  Col.  Powell  suflFered  at  all 
in  the  public  estimation. 

On  the  10th  of  October,  it  was  resolved  by  the  House, 
"  that  the  Committee  of  St.  David's  Parish  do  take  into 
their  custody  the  salt  now  in  Mr.  John  Mitchell's  store,  at 
Cheraw  Hill,  paying  for  the  same  at  the  rate  of  fifty  shil- 
lings currency  per  bushel."  "  And  that  they  sell  and  dis- 
tribute the  said  salt  to  and  amongst  such  of  the  inhabitants 
of  this  State,  as  have  not  lately  received  a  dindend  of  the 
salt  in  Charles-town,  or  at  Winyaw,  who  shall  apply  for  the 
same,   in  the   proportion  of  one  half  bushel   to   six  white 

T   2 


276  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

persons  in  a  family/^  This  action  indicates  the  extreme 
scarcity  of  this  article^  and  to  what  shifts  the  distressed 
inhabitants  were  driven,  alike  destitute  to  a  great  extent  of 
the  means  of  defence  and  necessaries  of  life. 

At  this  Session  of  Assembly,  an  Act  was  passed,  making 
a  change  as  to  the  places  of  election  for  St.  David^s.  The 
preamble  was  in  these  words  : — "  Whereas,  the  great  extent 
of  the  Parish  of  St.  David^s  renders  it  exceedingly  incon- 
venient for  all  the  inhabitants  thereof  to  attend  the  elections 
at  the  parish  church,  and  it  would  greatly  conduce  to  their 
ease  if  the  election  was  held  one  day  at  the  court  house  in 
the  said  parish,  and  the  other  day  at  the  parish  church 
thereof,^^  &c.  :   and  thus  it  was  arranged. 

After  the  adjom-nment  of  the  Court  for  Charles-town 
District  in  October,  Chief  Justice  Drayton  presiding,  the 
Judges  commenced  their  circuits  throughout  the  state. 

The  charge  of  the  Chief  Justice  to  the  Grand  Jury  of 
Charles-town  was  marked  by  learning  and  patriotic  ardor, 
and  published  in  the  Gazettes,  producing,  as  on  former 
occasions,  a  decided  effect  upon  the  public  mind.  The 
Court  for  Cheraws  District  was  opened  on  Tuesday,  15th  of 
Nov.,  and  the  following  presentments  were  made  by  the 
Grand  Jury : — 

"  I.  When  we  reflect  on  the  many  grievances  that  the 
good  people  of  North  America  have  long  labored  under 
from  the  numerous  oppressive  and  unconstitutional  acts  of 
the  British  Parliament,  but  more  particularly  some  that 
have  been  passed  since  the  conclusion  of  the  late  war;  and 
at  the  same  time  consider,  that  their  most  humble  and 
dutiful  petitions  and  remonstrances  against  these  acts  have 
been  always  answered  by  a  repetition  of  similar,  nay,  some- 
times greater  injuries  and  oppressions ;  we  find  them  justi- 
fied by  the  laws  of  God  and  Nature,  and  compelled  by  the 
dictates  of  reason  and  humanity,  to  dissolve  their  union 
with  that  Government,  and  to  renounce  all  allegiance  thereto. 
It  is,  therefore,  with  the  highest  pleasure,  that  the  Grand 
Jury  for  the  District  of  Cheraws  embraces  this  first  oppor- 
tunity of  congratulating  our  fellow-citizens  and  American 
brethren  on  the  late  declaration  of  the  Constitutional  Con- 
gress, constituting  the  United  Colonies  of  North    America 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  277 

free  and  indepeudcnt  States,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof 
totally  absolved  from  any  allcgianec  to  the  British  Crown_, 
that  being  the  only  means  now  left  of  securing  to  them- 
selves and  their  posterity  the.  inestimable  blessings  of 
liberty  and  happiness,  and  which  Ave,  as  freemen,  are  re- 
solved to  snpport  and  defend  at  the  hazard  of  our  lives  and 
fortunes. 

"  II.  We  present  the  want  of  a  new  jury  list  in  this 
district,  and  recommend  that  a  law  may  be  passed  for  that 
purpose. 

"  Lastly.  We  return  our  thanks  to  his  Honor,  the  Judge, 
for  his  most  excellent  charge  delivered  the  first  day  of  this 
sessions. 

''Claudius  Pegues,  Foreman.      L.S. 

Charles  M'Call.  L.S. 

Thomas  Ellerbe.  L.S. 

John  Wilds.  L.S. 

Zachariah  Nettles.  L.S. 

Thomas  Ayer.  L.S. 

Martin  Kolb.  L.S. 

Abel  Edwards,  L.S. 

Philip  Pledger.  L.S. 

Robert  Lide.  L.S. 

John  Kimbrough.  L.S. 

Thomas  Lide.  L.S. 

William  Pouneey.  L.S. 

Moses  Speight.  L.S. 

John  Mikell.  L.S. 

Martin  Dewitt.  L.S. 

Magnus  Corgill.  L.S. 

Aaron  Daniel.  L.S. 

Richard  Curtis.  L.S. 

Abel  Wilds.  L.S. 

Thomas  James.  L.S.''* 

The  occasion,  memorable  as  the  first  presented  to  the 
people  of  Cheraws,  since  the  4th  of  July  previous,  for  the 
expression  of  their  sentiments,  M^as  hailed  with  delight,  and 
rendered  worthy,   in    the    improvement   made  of  it,   to   be 


Gazette. 


278  HISTORY   OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

j)lacecl  side  by  side  with  others  that  had  gone  before.  No- 
thing could  be  added  to  give  weight  to  what  the  Grand 
Jury  here  declared  to  the  world,  but  the  redeeming  the 
pledge  of  "  life  and  fortune."  This  had  already  been  done 
in  part,  and  was  within  a  few  years  following  to  be  com- 
pleted by  the  costliest  oblations  on  the  altar  of  freedom. 

In  consequence  of  the  unsettled  state  of  affairs,  the  Court 
for  Cheraws  District  did  not  sit  again  until  the  fall  of  1778, 
and  after  that  no  more  until  the  war  was  Qver. 

For  more  than  two  years  to  come,  the  British  confining 
their  operations  chiefly  to  the  northward.  South  Carolina 
enjoyed  a  state  of  profound  repose. 

A  lucrative  trade  was  carried  on  by  waggons  with  the 
States  south  of  New  Jersey.  Commerce  flourished  and 
plenty  abounded.  With  the  exception  of  occasional  incur- 
sions by  the  Tories  along  the  border,  there  was  little  to 
mar  the  pleasures  of  the  calm  which  thus  succeeded  the 
opening  storm.  And  even  the  spirit  of  the  Tories  was 
crushed  by  the  brilliant  victory  of  Fort  Moultrie,  and  the 
departure  of  the  enemy. 

Liberty  had  risen  to  the  ascendant.  And  until  Carolina 
became  again  the  scene  of  hostile  operations,  no  incident  of 
sjsecial  interest  transpired  in  connexion  with  the  struggle 
on  the  Pedee.  So  long  as  the  Whigs  could  remain  at  home, 
domestic  enemies  kept  at  a  distance. 

On  the  18th  of  Feb.,  1777,  the  parish  of  St.  David  lost  a 
prominent  man  and  useful  citizen,  Arthur  Hart,  Esq.  He 
died  at  his  residence  on  Pedee,  having  served  his  country 
faithfully  from  the  commencement  of  the  struggle  for  inde- 
pendence, leaving  a  son,  James  Hart,  to  transmit  his  name 
and  spirit  to  his  descendants. 

We  hear  again  from  Major  Wise,  now  of  the  Continental 
line,  in  the  following  letter  to  Capt.  Harrington  ; — 

"  Nelson's  Ferry,  1st  March,  1777. 

"  My  dear  Friend, — We  are  once  more  ordered  to  Georgia, 
that  State  being  actually  invaded,  and  a  whole  company 
of  our  regiment  at  Fort  M'Intosh*  taken  prisoners.    Samuel 


*  Fort  M'Intosh  is  a  stockade  on  the  St.  Jues.    Winn,  our  captain,  behaved 
well. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  279 

Williams  was  with  the  party  that  took  our  people.  To- 
morrow we  leave,  and  I  shall  have  the  command  of  the  main 
detachment  on  the  march.  Col.  Thompson  goes  ahead  with 
a  few  horse,  and  Col.  Mayson  is  absent. 

"  I  have  no  papers  to  send  you.  We  are  out  of  the  lati- 
tude of  news  here. 

"■'  Believe  me,  my  dearest  Friend, 

"  Your  ever  well  wisher, 
''  H.  W.  Harrington,  Esq.  "  Sam.  Wise. 

"  Pedee.^' 

On  the  9th  of  April,  writs  of  election  were  issued  for  fill- 
ing up  vacancies  in  the  General  Assembly. 

One  member  was  returned  for  St.  David's,  in  the  room 
of  the  Hon.  Alexander  M'Intosh,  who  had  been  elected  a 
member  of  the  Legislative  Council. 

Thus  the  year  1777  passed  on  and  drew  to  a  close. 
Attention  began  to  be  turned  to  other  matters,  now  that 
comparative  quiet  was  restored,  and  the  public  mind  to  some 
extent  relieved  from  the  long-continued  agitation  to  which  it 
had  been  subjected. 

The  education  of  the  young,  in  consequence  of  the  troubles 
of  the  past,  had  been  sadly  neglected.  The  evil  was  sorely 
felt,  and  a  general  determination  manifested  to  provide 
against  its  continuance. 

Of  the  eSbrts  made  in  this  direction,  in  St.  David's,  some 
account  will  be  given  in  the  next  chapter. 


280  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


at.  David's  Society — Its  organization — First  members — Others  added — Original 
subscription  paper — Incorporation  of  the  society — Its  subsequent  history — 
Origin  of  "  Society  Hill " — Character  of  the  community — Military  organi- 
zation on  Pedee — Military  Acts — Alexander  M'Intosh  a  brigadier  general — 
Letters  ofMajor  Wise — Oath  of  allegiance — Account  of  it — Original  record — 
Letter  of  Major  Wise — Presentments  of  grand  jury  of  Cheraws — Represen- 
tatives elected  for  St.  David's — Letter  of  Henry  William  Harrington — Of 
Major  Wise — Death  of  Colonel  Powell — Account  of  him — State  of  public 
affairs — Colonel  M'Intosh  in  service — Correspondence  with  General  Moultrie 
— Movements  of  the  army — M'Intosh's  reply  to  the  enemy — General  alarm 
through  the  State — Armies  in  motion — Siege  of  Charles-town — Colonel 
M'Intosh  a  commissioner  to  treat  with  the  enemy — Siege  raised — Public 
rejoicings — Extracts  from  Pugli's  journal — Attack  on  Savannah — Major 
Wise  killed — His  character — Loss  of  others  from  Pedee — Captain  Harring- 
ton removes  to  No.  Ca. — His  promotions — Judge  Pendleton  elected  repre- 
sentative in  place  of  Major  Wise — Extracts  from  Journal  of  Assembly  on 
subject — Tories  in  gaol — Maurice  Murphy  a  colonel — Gloomy  prospects  for 
the  State. 


About  tliis  time  appears  the  first  mention  of  a  society 
which  was  destined  to  exert  an  important  influence  on  the 
welfare  of  the  communities  bordering  on  the  Upper  Pedee. 

But  little  attention  had  hitherto  been  given  to  the  sub- 
ject of  education.  With  a  country  recently  settled,  and 
most  of  the  inhabitants  poor,  it  was  to  be  expected  that 
matters  of  material  interest  would  first  engage  the  thoughts 
of  the  people.  For  some  years  past,  too,  the  public  distur- 
bances, so  deeply  affecting  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the 
infant  settlements,  had  seriously  retarded  their  progress. 

Being  now,  however,  in  a  state  of  comparative  repose,  and 
with  brighter  prospects  for  the  future,  the  welfare  of  the 
rising  generation  was  no  longer  overlooked. 

On  the  13th  of  December,  1777,  this  entry  appears  in 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Pugh^s  Journal : — "  Assembled  at  the  Meeting 
House,  in  Society,  to  promote  learning  ;''  and  on  the  20th, 
"  went  to  Dr.  Mills',  about  the  Society's  rules.''  On  the  31st, 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


281 


also,  ^'  went  to  the  Neck,*  to  the  Society,  signed  the  rules, 
chose  officers,  &c/' 

The  Hon.  Alexander  jSI'Intosh  was  elected  president,  and 
George  Hicks  and  Abel  Kolb,  wardens. 

The  society  took  the  name  of  "  St.  David's,^'  and  by  that 
honored  appellation  continued  afterwards  to  be  distinguished. 

The  names  of  those  who  participated  in  the  organization 
were  as  follows,  viz.  ; — 


Gen.  Alexander  M'Intosh 
Col.  Thomas  Lide 
Wm.  Henry  Mills 
Abel  Wilds 
Major  Robert  Lide 
Capt.  Daniel  Sparks 
Rev.  Elhanan  Winchester 
Capt.  William  Dewitt 
Rev.  Evan  Pugh 
Benjamin  Rogers 

On  the  31st  of  January,  1778,  were  added  to  the  list  of 
members, — 


Col.  George  Hicks 
Capt.  Thomas  Ellerbe 
William  Terrel 
Thomas  Evans,  sen. 
Joshua  Edwards 
Col.  Abel  Kolb 
Nathanael  Saunders 
Thomas  James 
William  Pegues,  Esq. 


Capt.  Philip  Pledger 
Abel  Edwards 
Thomas  Powe 
William  Ellerbe 
Charles  Mason 
Jeremiah  Brown 
Joshua  Terrel 
Benjamin  Williamson 
Capt.  Edward  Jones 
John  Wilds 
James  Hicks 
John  Thompson 
William  Blassingame 
Capt.  Charles  Gee 


Richard  Hodge 

Col.  George  Pawley 

John  O'Neall 

William  Thomas,  Esq. 

Edward  Irby 

Major  John  Kimbrough 

Peter  Allston,  Esq. 

Captain  Simon  Council 

Cap.  George  King 

Philip  Singleton 

Capt.  Benjamin  Hicks 

Charles  Irby 

Capt.  Claudius  Pegues,  Jr. 

Edward  Blake. 


John  Hodge 

The  organization    of  the   society   excited    much  interest 
imong  the  inhabitaKts  of  St.  David's  Parish. 
An  original  subscription  paper  of  the  date  just  mentioned. 


*  The  Welch  Neck. 


282  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

with  a  preamble^  has  survived  the  ravages  of  tirae,  and  is 
in  these  words,  viz. : — 

"  As  the  endowing  and  establishing  public  schools  and 
other  seminaries  of  learning  has  ever  been  attended  with  the 
most  salutary  effects,  as  well  by  cultivating  in  youth  the 
principles  of  religion  and  every  social  virtue,  as  by  enabling 
them  afterwards  to  fill  with  dignity  and  usefulness  the  most 
important  departments  of  the  State  ;  who  that  is  a  lover 
of  his  country,  as  he  locks  around  him,  can  fail  to  deplore 
the  great  want  of  this  necessary  quahfi cation  in  our  youth, 
especially  in  the  interior  parts  of  it,  at  this  early  period  of 
our  flourishing  and  rising  state.  In  the  future,  when  we 
shall  be  at  liberty  to  make  our  own  laws  without  the  con- 
trol of  an  arbitrary  despot,  what  heart  would  not  glow  with 
pleasure  to  see  a  senate  filled  with  learned,  wise,  and  able 
men,  for  the  want  of  whom  the  most  flourishing  republics 
have  become  the  tools  of  arbitrary  despots.  And  whereas, 
there  is  a  society  established  in  the  Parish  of  St.  David, 
by  the  name  of  the  St.  David's  Society,  purposely  for 
founding  a  public  school  in  the  said  parish  for  educating 
youths  in  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages,  mathematics,  and 
other  useful  branches  of  learning,  by  those  who  are  not  of 
ability,  without  assistance,  to  carry  so  useful  and  necessary 
an  effort  into  effect  : 

"  Wherefore,  in  order  to  contribute  to  so  laudable  and 
benevolent  an  undertaking,  we,  whose  names  are  hereunto 
subscribed,  do  promise  to  pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid  into 
the  hands  of  the  Secretary  of  the  said  Society,  the  respec- 
tive sums  subjoined  to  each  of  our  names,  whenever  the 
same  is  called  for  by  the  said  Secretary  or  his  order. 

"  Witness  our  hands,  the  31st  day  of  January,  1778. 

£  5.  j  £  s. 

William  Lide       .     100  0     Charles  Irby  .      .  50  0 

John  W^ilson .      .        50  0      Joseph  Johnson  .  50  0 

Philemon  Thomas       25  0  ;  John  Manderson  50  0 


25  0  I  John  Ogle      .      .  500  0 

25  0  ;  Joseph  Pledger    .  50  0 

25  0  i  John  Pledger       .  50  0 

25  0  I  Benjamin  James  20  0 

Nathan  Savage    .     100  0  |  Isaiah  Prisbe       .  50  0 


Duke  Glen     . 
John  Jenkins 
William  Jones 
John  Speed    . 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  283 


Joseph  Dabbs 
Jethro  Moore 
Charles  Evans     . 
Joseph  Govirley   . 
Nathanael  Sander: 
Tristram  Thomas 
Charles  Sparks    . 
John  Thompson  . 
Edmund  Irby 
John  Lucas    . 
Samuel  De  Saurency  12  10 
Andrei  Dick       .        15     0 


50 

0 

25 

0 

50 

0 

25 

0 

100 

0 

55 

0 

100 

0 

50 

0 

50 

0 

25 

0 

25 

0 

50 

0 

50 

0 

25 

0 

5 

0 

20 

0 

25 

0 

50 

0 

60 

0 

100 

0 

50 

0 

10 

0"^ 

Moses  Fort    . 
John  Mikell  .      . 
William  Forniss  . 
David  Roach 
William  Vann     . 
Enoch  Evans,  Juu. 
Etheldred  Clary  . 
Aaron  Daniel 
Samuel  Winds     . 
Baily  Clark    .      . 
Thomas  Deane    . 
Thomas  Ayer 

In  the  sentiments  expressed,  and  the  laudable  interest 
taken  in  so  timely  and  noble  an  undertaking,  this  paper 
does  honor  to  the  early  days  of  the  Pedee.  The  most  of 
the  subscribersf  lived  in  other  parts  of  the  parish,  at  some 
distance  from  Long  Bluff. 

On  the  7th  of  May,  a  few  names  were  added  to  the  list 
of  members,  viz.,  James  Blassingame,  Adam  Cusack,  John 
M'^Call,  Hugh  Jones,  and  Rev.  John  Cowen. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  society,  July  27th,  were  added  the 
names  of  David  Roach,  Alex.  Craig,  Jethro  Moore,  Robert 
Gibson,  and  Henry  Clark ;  and  on  14th  September,  Rev. 
John  Brown. 

In  December  of  this  year  (1778),  St.  David^s  Society  was 
incorporated.  The  Preamble  to  the  Act  was  in  these 
words : — "  Whereas,  sundry  inhabitants  of  the  Cheraw  Dis- 
trict have  formed  themselves  into  a  society  by  the  name  of 
the  '  Saint  David's  Society,'  for  the  express  purpose  of  insti- 
tuting and  endowing  a  seminary  of  learning  in  the  District 
of  Cheraw,  to  instruct  and  educate  youth  in  the  necessary 
and  usefid  branches  of  knowledge,  and  have  made  humble 
application  to  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State  to  be  in- 
corporated, and  invested  with  such  powers  and  privileges  as 
may  most  effectually  advance  the  views  of  the  said  Society : 


*  £100,  depreciated  in  May,  1778,  was  equivalent  to  £30  8*.  9|(f.  £100, 
old  currency  in  sterling,  to  £14  5.y.  %\d. 

f  Some  of  the  names  on  the  subscription  list  appear  here  for  the  first  and 
last  in  the  records  of  the  time,  as  in  the  case  of  Dr.  John  Ogle,  the  largest 
subscriber. 


284  HISTORY  OF  THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Therefore,  be  it  enacted.  That  the  Honorable  Alexander 
M'Intosh,  Esq.,  President  of  the  said  Society,  and  George 
Hicks  and  Abel  Kolb,  Esqrs.,  the  present  Wardens,  and  the 
several  persons  who  now  are,  or  who  shall  hereafter  be, 
members  of  the  said  Society,  shall  be  a  body  incorporate/^ 

Subsequent  to  this  time,  no  further  progress  appears  to 
have  been  made,  until  the  troubles  of  the  Revolution  were 
over,  when  the  society  was  reorganized,  and  went  into 
vigorous  operation. 

The  first  school-house  was  erected  a  few  yards  from  the 
spot  where  the  building  known  to  the  present  generation 
was  used  as  an  academy  until  within  a  few  years  since.  It 
was  near  the  brow  of  the  first  commanding  eminence  above 
the  river,  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  distant. 

Of  the  first  teachers  nothing  is  known.  For  more  than 
a  half  century  after,  the  academy  of  St.  David^s  was  of  dis- 
tinguished note  in  the  eastern  section  of  the  State.  Many 
were  prepared  within  its  walls  for  a  more  thorough  course 
of  study  abroad ;  and  others,  not  less  eminent  in  after  years, 
looked  back  to  it  as  their  only  Alma  Mater. 

About  this  time,  settlements  began  to  be  made  still  fur- 
ther out  from  the  river,  along  the  line  of  the  present  vil- 
lage, and  from  the  society  then  established,  the  infant  com- 
munity took  the  name  of  "  Society  Hill.^^ 

Formed  of  planters  in  easy  circumstances,  though  for  the 
most  part  yet  of  small  estates,  but  who  continued  to  grow 
in  wealth  and  refinement,  this  community  became  noted  for 
the  intelligence  and  \artue  of  its  members,  and  in  all  the 
essential  elements  of  character  and  progress  changed  less 
than  almost  any  other  to  be  found.  It  presented  no  attrac- 
tions to  men  of  enterprise  from  abroad,  and  opened  but 
little  field  for  the  spirit  of  adventure  or  speculation  to  those 
in  its  midst,  and  continued,  as  a  consequence,  to  be  marked 
by  those  quiet  and  conservative  traits  which  an  agricultural 
people,  with  a  sound  religious  sentiment  pervading  them, 
might  be  expected  to  display.  Since  the  early  part  of 
1775,  the  military  organization  on  the  Pedee  had  undergone 
important  changes.  At  that  time,  as  will  be  remembered. 
Col.  G.  G.  Powell  was  in  command  of  the  Cheraw  Regi- 
ment, one  of  the  thirteen  into  which  the  militia  of  the  State 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  285 

was  then  divided,  Tvith  Charles  Augustiis  Steward^  Lieut. - 
Colonel^  and  Abraham  Biiekholts,  Major.  In  the  latter 
part  of  1777,  Geo.  Hicks  was  Colonel,  Abel  Kolb,  Lieut. - 
Col.,  and  Lemuel  Benton,  Major.  Col.  Hicks  probably 
succeeded  Col.  Powell. 

The  Militia  Act  of  March,  1778,  which  repealed  all 
former  Acts,  as  well  as  the  '•'  Resolves  of  the  late  Provincial 
Congress,'^  provided  for  a  division  of  the  militia  into  three 
brigades,  for  each  of  which  a  brigadier-general  and  major  of 
brigade  were  to  be  appointed.  Prior  to  that  time,  as  already 
mentioned,  the  only  organization  was  that  of  companies, 
battalions  or  troops,  and  regiments. 

Under  the  Act  of  1778,  no  volunteer  company  was  to  be 
formed,  and  those  previously  existing  were  to  be  disbanded 
whenever  there  should  cease  to  be  fifty  effective  men  on 
their  muster  rolls.  No  regiment  was  to  be  divided  unless 
containing  more  than  twelve  hundred  men.  Lieut.-Colonel 
Alexander  INI'Intosh  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
brigade,  embracing  the  eastern  portion  of  the  State. 

This  position  he  maintained  till  his  death,  as  appears 
from  the  private  records  and  public  journals  of  the  day. 

Major  Wise  continued  to  write  to  his  friend,  Capt.  Har- 
rington, giving  some  account  of  matters  as  they  transpired 
in  other  parts  of  the  State,  and  in  Georgia ; — 

''  My  dear  Friend,  "  Charles-town,  January  22,  1778. 

"  You  herewith  receive  the  last  paper  printed, 
or  likely  to  be  for  some  time,  on  account  of  the  fire  which 
happened  here  on  the  morning  of  the  1 5th  inst.,  which 
burned  down  all  along  the  Bay,  from  Queen^s  Street  to 
Stol's  Alley  and  back  in  a  parallel  line  to  Church  Street, 
except  a  few  scattering  houses.  The  Tories  have  been  by 
some  few  accused  of  it,  but  the  real  cause  was,  I  believe, 
accidental  in  Union  Street,  and  an  excessively  high  wind. 
Indigo  is  very  dull  sale,  at  60s.,  and  rice  at  70^. — the 
embargo  still  continuing.  We  have  a  report  of  a  French 
war,  but  nothing  certain. 

"  The  Assembly  have  granted  a  million  to  purchase  pro- 
duce to  ship  for  dry  goods,  to  be  sold  to  the  public  at  25 
per   cent,  profit ;  and  chose   the   following   delegates,    viz.. 


286  HISTORY  or  the  old  cheraws. 

Cliristopher  Gadsden,  A.  Middleton,  Wm.  H.  Draytoiij  H. 
Laurens,  and  J.  Matthews.  The  last  wanted  a  few  votes, 
but  I  am  sure  will  be  chosen  to-morrow. 

"  Tliree  companies  of  our  regiment  and  myself  are  ordered 
to  town  to  do  duty,  with  Col.  Pinckney.  Therefore  I  shall 
be  stationed  here,  probably  for  some  time.  I  have  sent  for 
the  Georgia  Constitution  for  you,  and  hope  to  get  it. 

"  24th.  Since  writing  the  above,  a  report  prevails  that  an 
engagement  happened  on  Christmas-day  between  Generals 
"Washington  and  Howe — the  particulars  unknown.  Some 
say  Washington  was  defeated. 

"  I  am,  dear  Sir, 

"  Your  ever  afft.  friend, 

"  S.  Wise. 

"  Henry  Wm.  Harrington,  Esq.,  Pedee.^^ 

"  My  dear  Sir,  "Charles-town,  12  April,  1778. 

"  The  General  having  ordered  me  with  200  men 
to  Georgia  (notwithstanding  he  had  given  me  leave  to  come 
up),  prevents  my  attending  Court,  and  I  fear  will  be  of  bad 
consequence  to  you  in  your  trial  with  James.  I  will  be 
greatly  obliged  to  you  if  you  will  deliver  the  enclosed  to 
Col.  Hicks.  The  Tories  here  are  of  opinion  they  will 
govern  before  the  summer  is  over. 

"  Indeed,  Col.  Powell  told  me  yesterday  he  would  tiot  go 
off,  for  we  should  have  enough  on  our  hands  without 
troubling  them. 

"  Gen.  Howe  writes  from  Georgia,  that  the  enemy  are 
collecting  at  St.  Augustine  from  West  Florida  and  every 
other  quarter,  to  attack  Georgia ;  and  that  this  aflFair  of  the 
Tories  from  the  back  country  marching,  is  a  plan  settled 
some  time  ago.  I  know  it  will  by  the  ignorant  be  attri- 
buted to  the  oath.  I  don^t  expect  to  see  you  before  July, 
even  should  we  not  be  attacked. 

"  I  promised  myself  much  satisfaction  from  this  intended 
jaunt  to  Pedee,  for  my  wife  and  son-in-law  were  coming 
with  me. 

"  However,  you  know  a  soldier  ought  to  be  patient  under 
disappointments. 

''  I  understand  Hodge  brought  in  several  letters  and  gave 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  287 

tliem  to  Wiley,  but  none  of  tlicm  Lave  reaelied  me.  Were 
it  not  that  I  knew  of  this  circumstance,  I  might  suspect  my 
friends  on  Pedee  had  forgotten  the  man  who  is  resolved 
never  to  forget  them,  or  the  place  where  the  partner  of  his 
heart  is  deposited. 

"  We  have  great   hopes  of  peace  from   the   accounts  re- 
ceived from  the  Southward.      God  speed  it,  I  say. 
"  I  am,  with  the  most  sincere  regard, 

"  Dear  Sii",  ever  your  affect,  friend, 

"  S.  Wise. 
"  Henry  Wm.  Harrington,  Esq.,  Pedee.^^ 

The  oath  referred  to  in  this  letter  in  connexion  with  the 
Tories,  was  that  enacted  by  the  Assembly  in  March  of  this 
year,  as  an  oath  or  affirmation  of  allegiance,  to  be  taken  by 
every  adult  male,  in  the  following  words,  viz. :  "  I,  A.  B., 
do  swear  or  affirm  that  I  will  bear  true  faith  or  allegiance 
to  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  and  will  faithfully  support, 
maintain,  and  defend  the  same,  against  George  the  Third, 
King  of  Great  Britain,  his  successors,  abettors,  and  all 
other  enemies  and  opposers  whatsoever;  and  will,  without 
delay,  discover  to  the  Executive  Authority,  or  some  one 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  this  State,  all  plots  and  conspiracies 
that  shall  come  to  my  knowledge,  against  the  said  State,  or 
any  other  of  the  United  States  of  America.  So  help  me 
God." 

Those  who  refused  this  oath  were  obliged  to  depart  the 
country,  being  permitted  to  leave  their  families  if  they 
desired  it,  and  also  to  sell  or  carry  off  their  estates. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  the  disaffected  were  excited  by 
it  to  the  bitterest  resolves. 

An  original  certificate*  in  the  printed  form,  which  appears 
to  have  been  distributed  throughout  the  State,  is  in  these 
words,  viz.  :  ''I  do  hereby  certify,  that  Thomas  Quick  hath 
taken  and  subscribed  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  and  Fidelity, 
as  directed,  by  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  of  South  Carolina,  entitled,  "  An  Act  to  oblige  every 
free  male  inhabitant    of  this  State,  above  a  certain  age,  to 


*  III  the  author's  possession.     It  was  found  among  the  papers  of  Thomas 
Quick.  • 


288  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

give  assurance  of  Fidelity  and  Allegiance  to  the  same,  and 
for  other  purposes  therein  mentioned. 

"  James  Hicks,  Capt. 
«  May,  the  29th  day,  1778." 

Again  Major  Wise  writes  : — 

"  Charles-town,  18th  April,  1778. 

'^  My  dear  Friend, 

"  I  wrote  you  by  Mr.  Strother  of  my 
being  ordered-  to  Georgia,  for  which  place  I  set  off  to- 
morrow, with  150  rank  and  file  of  ours — 58  of  the  1st  and 
50  of  the  6th,  under  command  of  Col.  C.  C.  Pinckney — a 
circumstance  I  like  much.  The  Tories  are  said  to  be 
assembled  there  to  the  number  of  500 — nay,  some  accounts 
say,  1700. 

"  Remember  me  to  all  your  'family,  and  believe  me, 
"  Your  ever  sincere  Friend, 

"  S.  Wise. 
"  Henry  Wm.  Harrington,  Esq.,  Pedee.^' 

The  Court  for  Cheraw  District  opened  on  the  16th  of 
November.  The  Grand  Jury  made  the  following  present- 
ments : — 

"  I.  We  present,  as  a  great  grievance,  the  number  of 
Representatives  in  the  General  Assembly,  humbly  appre- 
hending that  thereby  the  State  is  put  to  an  unnecessary 
expense,  and  that  if  the  representation  was  smaller  it  would 
be  thereby  more  respectable,  and  the  public  business  be 
done  with  facility. 

"  II.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  public 
post  throughout  this  State. 

"III.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  bridge 
over  Black  Creek,  and  over  Thompson's  Creek,  near  Roger's 
Ferry,  and  over  Crooked  Creek. 

"  Lastly.  We  recommend  that  these  presentments  may 
be  published  in  the  Gazettes. 

"  William  Henry  Mills,  Foreman.      L.S. 

George  Hicks.  L.S. 

John  Hodge.  L.S. 

.   Peter  Roach.  L.S. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  289 


Thomas  EUerbe.      - 

L.S 

William  Dewitt. 

L.S, 

Claudius  Pegucs,  sen. 

L.S. 

Benjamin  Hicks. 

L.S, 

Thomas  Hicks. 

L.S. 

Thomas  Ayer. 

L.S. 

John  Pigot. 

L.S. 

Joseph  Pledger. 

L.S. 

William  Blassingame. 

L.S. 

Claudius  Pegues,  jun. 

L.S. 

Henry  Council. 

L.S. 

Joshua  Edwards.  L.S. 

"  Ordered  that  the  said  presentments  be  printed  and  pub- 
lished. 

"  By  the  Court, 

"  Thomas  Powe,  C.C.T.^' 

By  the  Constitution,  adopted  in  March  previous,  the 
representation  had  been  reapportioned,  and  provision  made 
for  the  election  of  senators.  The  parishes  retained,  in  most 
instances,  the  number  of  representatives  they  had  before. 
No  change  was  made  in  the  case  of  St.  David^'s,  which  was 
now  entitled  to  one  senator  and  six  representatives.  The 
grand  jury  called  in  question  the  wisdom  or  expediency  of 
this  feature  of  the  new  Constitution,  and  were  bold  enough 
to  recommend  a  change.  Elections  were  ordered  for  the 
last  ]Monday  in  November;  and  for  St.  David^s,  Hon. 
Alexander  M'lutosh  was  returned  as  senator ;  for  repre- 
sentatives, William  Standard,  Charles  Evans,  Wm.  Henry 
jNIills,  William  Pegues,  and  Abel  Kolb,  Esquires ;  leaving  a 
vacancy,  which  was  subsequently  filled  by  the  election  of 
Major  Wise. 

The  Legislature  was  to  meet  on  the  first  Monday  in 
January  ensuing,  in  Charles-town. 

The  following  letter  will  convey  some  idea  of  the  trying 
wants  of  this  period,  as  experienced  by  the  people  of  the  in- 
terior : — 

"  Colonel  Joseph  Kershaw. 

Dear  Sir, — Our  friend,  Claudius  Pegues,  Esq.,  is  so  greatly 
distressed  by  an  unfortunate  accident   that  happened  to  his 


290  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

eldest  son  last  Tuesday,  that  he  cannot  write  on  the  subject ; 
but  well  knowing  your  friendship  for  him,  has  desired  me  to 
beg  the  favor  of  you,  Sir,  to  give  Mr,  John  Wright,  the 
bearer  of  this,  all  possible  assistance  in  obtaining  amputating 
instruments  at  or  near  Camden.  The  young  man  received 
a  load  of  Bristol  shot,  from  his  own  gun,  in  his  right  arm, 
just  above  the  wrist,  by  which  botli  bones  are  much  shat- 
tered ;  and  notwithstanding  the  immediate  assistance  of  two 
doctors,  we,  from  certain  appearances,  are  aj)prehensive  of 
mortification;  and  our  doctors  having  no  instruments,  in 
order  to  be  prepared  for  the  worst,  we  now  make  this  appli- 
cation to  our  friend  to  assist  us  in  obtaining  an  amputating 
saw  for  the  arm,  and  a  needle.  Your  brother.  Sir,  has  been 
so  good  as  to  write  on  our  behalf  in  a  pressing  manner  to  Mr. 
Duncan  McRae  ;  but  our  fears  suggest  to  us,  as  there  is  a 
possibility  of  that  gentleman's  being  from  home,  that  that 
may  now  be  the  case  ;  and  as  a  disaj^pointment  of  this  nature 
may  greatly  endanger  the  life  of  my  young  friend,  permit 
me,  Sir,  to  entreat  you  to  interest  yourself  in  this  matter; 
and  then,  if  instruments  are  to  be  had,  I  doubt  not  but  we 
shall  be  so  far  happy  as  to  obtain  them. 
"  I  am,  with  high  regard, 

"  Yovir  most  humble  and 

"  Most  obedient  Servant, 

"  Henry  Wm.  Harrington. 

"  Deer.  13,  1V78." 

Soon  after  this.  Major  Wise  writes  from  Purysburg.  The 
conflict  was  waxing  warm  in  that  quarter. 

"  Head- quarters,  Purysburg,  18tb  January,  1779. 

"Dear  Harrington, — I  write  you  merely  because,  when  an 
opportunity  offers,  I  wish  it  not  to  escape  me.  We  gather 
here  pretty  fast ;  but  you  know  what  militia  are,  no  sooner 
come,  than  for  going  again.  We  may  have  here  now  nearly 
or  quite  3000,  and  expect  1500  more  in  two  or  three  days 
from  your  State.*  Our  back  country  militia  has  not  yet 
joined  us.     Howe  is  gone,  regretted  by  none.      Our  present 


*  Captain  Harrington  had  removed  to  North  Caroluia. 


HISTORY    OF  THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  291 

general  (Lincoln)  seems  to  command  for  himself^  and  I  hope 
will  do  better, 

"  The  living  was  never  so  well  found.  He  lets  us  want 
for  nothing  that  is  necessary  to  be  had.  Nor  are  Ave  turned 
out  and  harassed  for  every  trifle.  The  army  is  as  little 
fatigued  as  possible.  The  enemy  have  their  full  swing  in 
Georgia,  and  are  in  possession  of  all  the  ferries,  which,  I 
apprehend,  will  make  it  veiy  difficult  re-entering  Georgia. 
The  Georgians  have  joined  them  in  shoals,  and  have  taken 
arms  against  us.  Yet  I  am  satisfied  it  is  more  through  ne- 
cessity than  choice,  for  we  really  abandoned  them  and  their 
property  to  the  enemy.  And  should  we  now  leave  this 
place  (such  is  our  present  situation),  and  march  up  the 
country  to  cross  the  river  high  up,  the  enemy  might,  in  the 
interim,  enter  Carolina  here,  and  take  the  two  remaining 
galleys,  which  have  been  warped  up  here  just  above  the  tide- 
way. We  lost  in  Sunbury  Fort,  which  is  taken,  upwards  of  100 
more  prisoners,  with  the  cannon  and  everything  there.  I 
never  before  could  imagine  it  possible  that  such  showers  of 
bullets  could  have  been  fired  Avithout  doing  more  execution. 
The  enemy  fired  on  us  thirty-eight  minutes  in  flank,  front, 
and  rear ;  and  so  nigh  as  to  abuse  us  with  their  tongues  ; 
and  we  scarcely  ever  returned  the  fire,  and  had  to  retreat 
over  a  causeway  across  an  impassable  swamp  a  full  quarter. 

Of  our   regiment,  we  had   but   one   sergeant  killed,  and 
four  privates  wounded,  and  sixty-four  made  j)risoners. 
"  I  am,  my  dear  friend, 

"  Yours  most  sincerely, 

"  Samuel  Wise. 

"  Remember  me  to  your  family. 

"  The  enemy  and  we  are  frequently  corresponding  by  way 
of  flags,  and  they  seem  in  this  respect  more  ready  than  is 
judged  expedient.  It  is  suspected  they  send,  through  this 
means,  to  gain  intelligence. 

However,  they  are  polite,  and  it  is  said,  use  our  prisoners 
well.^' 

The  parish  of  St.  David  was  now  to  mourn  the  loss  of 
one  who  had  been  long  and  prominently  connected  with  its 
history. 


292  HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

No  man  of  the  time  liad  occupied  a  more  conspicuous 
or  honorable  place  in  all  connected  with  the  public  interests 
of  the  Pedee  than  George  Gabriel  Powell.  On  the  21st  of 
January  his  useful  life  was  brought  to  a  close  in  Christ 
Church  Parish.  Having  early  won  the  confidence  and  affec- 
tion of  the  people  on  the  Pedee,  he  retained  his  place  in 
their  esteem  with  singular  uniformity  through  years  of 
eventful  changes,  relinquishing  at  times,  in  their  behalf, 
positions  of  more  commanding  influence,  returning  to  their 
service  as  his  first  love,  and  devoting  to  it  his  maturest 
labours  to  the  end  of  his  career. 

His  memory  should  never  cease  to  be  cherished  with 
admiring  gratitude  by  the  descendants  of  those  whom  he  so 
faithfully  served. 

The  Legislature  was  now  in  session  in  Charles-town,  and 
in  February  elected  William  Strother  Sheriff  of  Cheraws 
district. 

Attention,  however,  was  now  to  be  turned  from  civil 
affairs  to  the  reapproaching  struggle  for  liberty  and  life, 
and  the  comparative  calm  which  had  been  enjoyed  for  two 
years  past  was  to  be  no  more  known  until  the  close  of  the 
war. 

After  the  failure  of  the  British  Commissioners  to  effect 
a  reunion  of  the  Colonies  with  the  Mother  Country,  the 
struggle  was  recommenced  on  a  new  system.  The  order  of 
procedure  was  changed,  and  the  South  became  henceforth 
the  principal  theatre  of  offensive  operations. 

The  close  of  1778  saw  more  active  and  vigorous  prepara- 
tions than  before  for  a  decisive  blow  upon  the  South.  In 
December  of  that  year  Savannah  was  taken,  and  South 
Carolina  became  a  frontier  state,  calling  for  redoubled  efforts 
on  the  part  of  her  people.  The  public  spirit  was  roused  to 
the  highest  pitch,  and  everywhere  military  movements  were 
being  made.  The  churches  were  deserted,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants generally  in  a  state  of  commotion  and  alarm.  Lieut. - 
Col.  Mcintosh  was  now  actively  engaged  in  the  service  of 
the  State.  After  the  evacuation  of  Augusta  by  the  enemy, 
he  was  detached,  in  command  of  a  company  of  regulars, 
with  a  party  of  militia  under  Col.  Howard,  in  all  about  200, 
to  follow  the  enemy  and  harass  them  in  the  rear. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  293 

Col,  M'Intosh  appears  to  have  possessed,  in  an  eminent 
flegi'cej  the  confidence  and  affection  of  Genl.  Moultrie. 
About  this  time  the  following  correspondence  took  place 
between  them. 

"  (Sent  by  express). 

"  Black  Swamp,  Apl.  29,  1779. 
"  Dear  Sir, 

"  You  must  endeavor  to  join  us,  if  you  can 
without  any  great  risk.  I  wish  you  could  have  given  me 
an  account  of  the  enemy^s  number.  I  could  better  judge 
how  to  act ;  the  light  horseman  informs  me  you  imagine 
them  upwards  of  three  hundred  men.  I  think  you  were 
right  to  retreat  in  time,  as  your  force  would  not  be  equal 
to  theirs  by  any  means.  I  expect  soon  to  have  accounts 
from  you  and  more  particulars  ;  as  you  have  no  baggage, 
you  may  cross  the  country  to  this. 
''  I  am,  &c., 

"William  Moultrie."^ 

To  this  letter,  Col.  Mcintosh  replied  as  follows  : — 

"  Coosahatchie,  Apl.  30th,  1779. 

"  Dear  General : 

"  Last  night  two  deserters  fi'om  the 
enemy  came  to  Bee's  Creek  ;  they  were  of  the  light  infantry. 
They  say  Col.  Maitland  commanded  yesterday,  that  he  had 
the  light  infantry,  and  the  2nd  battalion  of  the  71st  regi- 
ment, amounting  to  eight  or  nine  hundred  men  ;  that  they 
were  to  send  for  three  field-pieces  and  three  six-pounders, 
with  a  reinforcement  to  make  them  up  1 500  men ;  that 
they  did  not  know  the  Colonel's  plan,  but  that  they  heard 
it  said  that  he  intended  to  proceed  to  Charles- town,  and 
that  he  had  thirty  or  forty  Indians  with  him.  I  have  given 
Genl.  Bull  and  Col.  Skirving  information  of  these  particulars  ; 
the  men  are  so  lame  that  I  cannot  be  up  before  to-morrow 
night.      We  are  all  safe. 

"  I  am,  &c., 

"  Alexander  M'lNTosH.f 

"  Brig.-Genl.  Moultrie." 


*  Moultrie's  "  Memoirs,"  p.  389.  f  ll^i^l-.  P-  401. 


294 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


On  his  retreat  from  Black  Swamp  immediately  after, 
having  learned  that  the  enemy  had  crossed  the  river  at  the 
Tvro  Sisters  in  great  force.  General  Moultrie  marched  with 
all  possible  expedition  to  Coosahatchie^,  giving  notice  to 
Colonel  M'lntosh^  who  was  posted  at  Purysburg,  to  march 
immediately^  so  as  to  join  him,  which  he  did  that  night. 

Colonel  M'Intosh  gained  no  little  note  upon  the  open- 
ing of  the  campaign  in  Georgia,  by  a  reply  to  the  enemy, 
Avhich  became  a  well-known  saying  in  the  army.  It 
was  in  February,  1777,  when  a  body  of  British  troops,  arriv- 
ing at  Sunbury^  a  party  of  them  were  detached  to  demand 
the  surrender  of  the  fort,  of  which  M'Intosh  was  in  com- 
mand. His  answer  was,  "  Come  and  take  it ;"  which  they 
deemed  it  expedient  not  to  attempt  to  do. 

The  militia  were  now  marching  to  Charles-town  from  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  back  country. 

Captain  James  Gregg,  among  others,  went  down  on  this 
occasion,  in  command  of  a  company  fi'om  ^'  Old  Liberty,^^ 
just  below  the  line  of  St.  David^s,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river. 

General  Prevost  was  now  in  pursuit  of  General  Moultrie 
with  an  army  of  4000  men.  General  Lincoln  marching 
with  hasty  strides  to  come  up  with  the  Bi^itish,  Governor 
Eutlcdge  hurrying  down  from  Orangeburg  with  about  600 
militia,  hastening  to  get  to  town,  lest  he  should  be  shut 
off. 

Never  was  there  such  consternation  and  confusion,  five 
armies  moving  through  the  lower  parts  of  the  State  at  the 
same  time,  and  all  for  different  purposes. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  militia  of  the  State  had  been 
drafted,  put  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Richardson, 
and  marched  for  the  American  head-quarters.*  A  portion 
of  this  draft  doubtless  formed  the  expedition  from  Pedee, 
long  after  spoken  of  as  the  "  Black  Swamp  Voyage.^^t 
Its  destination  was  Black  Swamp,  Beaufort  District,  or  the 
neighborhood,  toward  which  a  general  movement  had  been 
made.  The  term  "  Voyage  "  was  used  by  writers  of  a  pre- 
vious age  for  expeditions  either   by   land  or  sea,  and  being 


Eanisay's  "  Eevolution,"  vol.  ii.  p.  12.  f  Ayer's  "  Narrative.' 


J 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  295 

gradually  adopted  into  the  spoken  language  of  the  day,  was 
retained  for  a  long  period  after,  as  in  this  instance,  though 
it  had  become  obsolete  with  contemporary  writers. 

The  retreating  and  invading  forces  concentrated  towards 
Charles-town,  and  but  for  a  remarkable  delay  on  the  part  of 
General  Prevost,  when  not  far  from  the  city,  it  would,  as 
all  accounts  agree,  undoubtedly  have  been  taken.  In  the 
disposition  of  the  troops  for  the  defence  of  the  town, 
Colonel  M'^Intosh,  with  the  5th  Regiment,  was  commanded 
to  take  post  in  the  redoubt,  on  the  right  side  of  the  liue."^ 
On  the  12th  of  May,  when  the  question  was  carried  for 
giving  up  the  town  on  a  neutrality,  a  respectable  merchant 
and  citizen  of  Charles-town  was  affected  to  tears  at  the 
humiliating  spectacle. 

Colonel  John  Laurens  was  requested  to  carry  a  message 
from  the  Governor  and  Council  to  General  Prevost,  but 
begged  to  be  excused,  saying,  that  though  he  would  do  au}^- 
thiug  in  his  power  to  serve  his  country,  he  could  not  think 
of  carrying  such  a  message  as  that.  General  Moultrie  then 
sent  for  Colonel  M'Intosh,  and  requested  he  would  go  with 
Colonel  Roger  Smith,  who  had  been  called  on  by  the 
Governor  with  the  message.  They  both  begged  to  be  ex- 
cused, but  were  at  length  pressed  into  compliance.  Colonel 
Prevost  acted  on  the  part  of  the  British. 

The  message  was  to  this  effect :  to  propose  a  neutrality 
dm-ing  the  war  between  Great  Britain  and  America;  and 
the  question,  whether  the  State  should  belong  to  Great 
Britain  or  remain  one  of  the  United  States,  was  to  be  de- 
termined by  the  treaty  of  peace  between  the  two  powers. 
The  commissioners  held  their  conference  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  the  American  gate.  The  enemy  would  accede  to  no 
other  terms  but  the  surrender  of  the  Americans  as  prisoners  of 
war.  The  result  was  speedily  known,  and  at  daylight  the 
next  morning,  the  joyful  report  was  spread  along  the  lines 
that  the  enemy  had  gone.f 

The  news  of  the  siege  was  carried  rapidly  through  the 
State,  and  many  were  filled  with  alarm  and  gloomy  fore- 
bodings. 

*  Moultrie's  "  Memoirs,"  p.  412.  t  Hjid.,  p.  431. 


296  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

This  entry  occurs  in  the  journal  of  the  Rev.  Evan  Pugh^ 
under  date  of  May  llth:  "Have  news  of  Charles- town 
being  besieged  by  the  enemy.  I  feel  melancholy  about  the 
fate  of  Charles-town  and  my  friends." 

Sounds  of  rejoicing,  however,  were  soon  to  follow.  On 
the  14th  of  July,  Mr.  Pugh  preached  a  thanksgiving  sermon 
for  the  signal  deliverance  from  the  foe.  But  the  joyous 
respite  was  of  short  duration. 

With  the  approach  of  October,  preparations  were  made 
for  an  attack  on  Savannah  by  the  combined  forces  of  the 
French  and  Americans.  On  the  9th  of  that  month  the 
assault  was  made,  and  many  sealed  their  devotion  to  liberty 
with  their  blood.  Among  the  number  of  these  was  Major 
Samuel  Wise,  a  gallant  soldier  of  freedom  and  a  cherished 
son  of  Pedee.  He  served  the  country  of  his  adoption  with 
enthusiastic  ardor,  and  was  ever  true  to  those  instincts 
which  he  brought  with  him  from  the  land  of  his  birth. 
Major  Wise  was  possessed  of  a  generous  disposition  and 
high  sense  of  honor.  Scrupulous  himself  in  his  dealings 
with  others,  he  exacted  a  like  course  of  conduct  in  return, 
which  involved  him  at  times  in  serious  difficulties.  His 
last  years  were  saddened  by  reverse  and  bereavement.  His 
end  was  such  as  he  desired  it  to  be,  at  the  post  of  duty  and 
in  the  thickest  of  the  strife. 

Leaving  no  son,  his  name  disappeared,  except  in  its  re- 
cords, from  the  history  of  Carolina,  but  will  ever  be  cherished 
as  one  on  that  extended  roll  of  patriot  worthies  which  these 
stirring  times  produced.  The  death  of  this  good  soldier 
was  not  the  only  one  for  which  the  inhabitants  of  the  Pedee 
were  called  to  mourn  on  this  occasion. 

In  his  journal,  November  9th,  with  reference  to  the  siege 
of  Savannah,  Mr.  Pugh  wrote:  "  We  lost  many  youth  f  and 
on  the  21st,  preached  (Job.  xiv.  1,  2)  "  A  funeral  for  those 
youths  lost  at  Savannah,  9th  October  past,  from  these 
parts." 

Captain  Harrington,  having  removed  some  time  previous 
to  this  from  the  Welch  Neck  on  Pedee,  to  Richmond 
County,  North  Carolina,  was,  on  the  25th  of  November, 
commissioned  colonel  of  the  militia  of  that  county  ;  and,  in 
June  of  the  following   year,   promoted    to    the    brigadier- 


HISTORY    OF   THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  297 

generalship  of  the  Salisbury  District,  which  embraced  an 
extensive  territory.  His  head-quarters  afterward  were 
chieHy  at  Cross  Creek ;  a  part  of  the  time  also  at  Haley^s 
ferry,  and  for  a  short  period  near  CheraAV  Hill. 

The  Legislature  was  now  in  session  in  Charles-town, 
giving  all  the  aid  in  its  power  to  the  defence  of  the  State. 
The  death  of  Major  Wise  created  a  vacancy  in  the  represen- 
tation from  St.  David^s,  which  was  filled  by  the  election  of 
the  Hon.  Henry  Pendleton.  Judge  Pendleton  had  been  on 
the  Law  Bench  since  April,  1776;  but  at  this  time,  and 
until  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  1790,  a  judge  was 
eligible  to  a  seat  in  the  Legislature.  He  was,  however,  not 
a  resident  of  St.  David's  Parish,  and  the  Constitution  of  1788 
made  the  ownership  of  a  settled  estate  and  freehold  in  his 
own  right,  of  the  value  of  three  thousand  four  hundred 
pounds  currency,  clear  of  debt,  in  the  parish  or  district  for 
which  a  nou-resident  should  be  elected,  necessary  to  his 
eligibility.  Whether  he  actually  owned  such  an  estate,  or 
was  made  for  the  time  a  nominal  possessor,  is  not  known. 
There  luas  a  difficulty,  however,  connected  with  the  election, 
as  appears  from  the  following  proceedings  in  the  House  of 
Representatives,  Jan.  24th,  1780,  viz. : — "  Mr.  Justice  Burke 
presented  to  this  House  a  Petition  of  the  Hon.  Henry  Pen- 
dleton, Esq.,  and  the  same  was  received  and  read,  setting 
forth,  that  the  Petitioner  is  informed  by  several  inhabitants 
and  freeholders  of  the  Parish  of  St.  David's,  that  he  was 
unanimously  elected  by  a  majority  of  the  electors  of  the 
said  parish,  to  be  their  representative  in  the  General 
Assembly,  and  that,  by  some  accident  or  neglect,  the  writ 
of  election  has  never  been  returned.  The  Petitioner  there- 
fore prays  that  he  may  be  admitted  to  his  seat,  and  that  the 
right  of  representation  may  be  reserved  to  the  said  parish, 
notwithstanding  any  accident  that  may  have  befallen  the  said 
writ,  &c. 

'^  Read  also  the  following  affidavit,  which  was  presented 
with  the  said  Petition,  viz. : — 

"  South  Carolina. 

"  George  Cogdell  maketh  oath,  that  he  was  at  the 
election  in  St.  David's  Parish  for  a  member  to  serve  in  the 


298  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

General  Assembly  iu  the  room  of  Major  Wise,  deceased, 
about  the  latter  end  of  November,  held  in  consequence  of  a 
writ  issued  for  that  purpose,  when  the  Hon.  H.  Pendleton, 
Esq.,  was,  as  he  understands,  unanimously  elected,  and  sup- 
poses the  said  writ,  if  not  returned,  must  have  been  lost  or 
neglected.''^ 

The  campaign  of  1779  ended  without  any  decisive  result 
on  either  side.  The  Tories,  as  usual,  had  been  actively  at 
work,  the  Whigs  having  been  called  away  from  their  homes, 
and  some  of  the  former  were  now  paying  the  penalty,  as 
the  following  record  shows  : — 

"  Received  of  Thomas  Powe,  Commissary  of  my  Regi- 
ment, 10  lbs.  corn  flour,  750  lbs.  beef,  and  450  lbs.  corn  flour, 
for  use  of  my  Regiment,  guarding  the  Tories  in  jail. — Oct. 
30th,  1779.      Geo.  Hicks,  Colonel.'^* 

This  was  the  jail  at  Long  Bluff",  and  these  Tories  had 
doubtless  been  engaged  in  some  attack  or  plundering  expe- 
dition, and  captured. 

Maurice  Murphy  was  now  in  command  as  acting  Colonel 
in  the  lower  part  of  St.  David's  Parish,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river,  embracing  probably  a  portion  of  Liberty  Precinct. 
He  was  a  man  of  reckless  daring  and  ardent  patriotism,  and 
performed  a  most  influential  part  throughout  the  war.  Every 
available  resource  of  men  and  means  was  now  called  into 
requisition. 

The  prospect  was  most  inviting  for  the  enemy. 

The  French  had  taken  their  departure ;  and  no  sooner 
was  this  known,  than  a  grand  expedition  was  set  on  foot 
from  New  York,  under  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  for  the  reduction 
of  Charles-town,  and  the  subjection  of  the  State.  The  Con- 
tinental Regiments  in  South  Carolina  had  been  greatly  re- 
duced by  the  casualties  of  war  and  the  expiration  of  their 
terms  of  service.  From  twenty-four  hundred  in  1777,  the 
number  was  diminished  to  eight  hundred  in  1780.  The 
future  was  full  of  gloom  for  the  Whigs.  Nevertheless,  the 
resolution  was  adopted,  in  full  House  of  Assembly,  to  de- 
fend Charles-town  to  the  last  extremity. 


Comptroller's  office,  Columbia,  S.  C. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  299 

The  militia  were  ordered  to  rendezvous,  and  every  man 
-n-ho  could  to  take  up  arms.  There  was  an  ominous  calm, 
now  that  the  conflict  of  1779  had  passed  away  ;  and  every 
one  felt  that  the  last  and  decisive  struggle  was  soon  to  begin. 
The  Whigs  of  Pedee  were  prepared  for  the  strife,  and  an- 
other chapter  will  show  how  nobly  they  responded  to  the 
call  of  their  country. 


300  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

Opening  of  year  1780 — Response  from  Pedee  for  defence  of  Charles-town — 
Movement  of  forces — No.  Ca.  militia  under  Colonel  Harrington — The  colonel 
leaves  for  Newbern — His  letter — Effects  of  fall  of  Charles- town  on  the 
people — Incidents  connected  with  it — Extracts  from  Pugh's  Journal — 
Feeling  of  the  British — Wemys's  Expedition  up  Pedee — Houses  burned — 
Adam  Cusack  hung — Reaches  Cheraw — Extracts  from  Pugh's  Journal — 
Oath  of  allegiance — Incidents  connected  with  it — Wemys  returns — Indul- 
gence^shown  him  afterwards  by  General  Sumpter — Extract  of  letter  of  Sir 
H.  Clinton — Cornwallis  takes  command — Disposition  of  British  troops — 
M'Arthm"  sent  to  Cheraw — Cornwallis's  despatches — Account  of  Harrison, 
a  Tory  colonel — MArthur  at  Cheraw — Letter  of  General  Caswell — 
MArthur  at  Long  Bluff — Attempt  to  capture  Thomas  Ayei* — The  result — 
Stirring  scene — Capture  of  Nathan  Sweat — His  escape — MArthur  returns 
to  Cheraw — Plundering  parties  at  General  Harrington's  and  Thomas 
Ellerbe's — Colonel  Bryan,  a  Loyalist,  marches  to  Cheraw — Enemy  alarmed 
— MArthur  to  fall  back — Cornwallis  and  Tarleton  on  subject — General 
Gates  arrives  at  Pedee — Proclamation — M'Arthur  leaves — Expedition  down 
the  river — Its  failure — Whig  exploit — Major  Thomas  distinguishes  himself 
— Colonel  Mills  escapes — Cornwallis's  and  Tarleton's  accounts  of  it — Sick- 
ness of  British  at  Cheraw — Account  of  71st  Regiment — Safe  conduct  for 
Mrs.  Harrington  —  Skirmish  in  Anson  County  —  Remarkable  negro  — 
Letter  of  J.  L.  Gervais — Letter  of  Spruce  M'Macay — Accounts  preceding 
battle  of  Camden — Effects  of  Gates's  defeat — Extracts  from  Pugh's  Journal 
— George  M'Call — Movements  about  Long  Bluff — Colonel  Kolb — Samuel 
Bacot's  adventure  with  Tories — Elias  Du  Bose's  capture — Tories  plunder 
Mrs.  Harrington — Subsequent  flight — General  Harrington  marches  to  Pedee 
— Letter  of  Colonel  Nicholas — Of  General  Gates — Notice  of  ^\'emys — Letter 
of  J.  Penn — Of  Colonel  Brown  from  Beauty  Spot — Of  General  Gates — Of 
Colonel  Martin — General  Harrington  reaches  Haley's  Ferry — Marches  to 
Cheraw — General  Smallwood's  letter — Letter  of  Colonel  Brown — Account  of 
MajorBarfield — Colonel  Davidson's  letter  to  General  Harrington — Colonel 
Brown's  letter  to  same — Extract  from  Gazette — General  Smallwood  to 
General  Harrington — Colonel  Marion's  letter — Colonel  Eolb's — Return  of  his 
regiment — Cornwallis's  letter  to  Sir  H.  Clinton — List  of  negroes  in  British 
service— General  M'Intosh's  death — Account  of  him — Colonel  Donaldson  to 
General  Harrington — Arrival  of  General  Green  at  Charlotte — Divides  his 
forces  —  Marches  to  Pedee  —  Position  there — Cornwallis  to  Tarleton — 
Tarleton's  view  of  American  movements — Close  of  1780. 

The  year  1780  opened  upon  Carolina  under  the  most  threat- 
ening aspects.  The  approach  of  a  greatly  increased  force  of 
the  enemy  filled  the  inhabitants  with  dire  apprehensions, 
which,  notwithstanding  the  most  heroic  efforts  for  their 
defence,  were  soon  to  be  realized.  Promptly  responding  to 
the  call  from  Charles-town,  all   the  available  troops  from 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD  CHERAWS.  301 

Pedee  were  soon  in  motion^  as  from  other  parts  of  the 
State.  The  first  division  of  Col.  Hick^s  regiment,  under 
the  command  of  Lieut,-Coh  Kolb,  was  on  the  march.'^  The 
second  division,  under  Col.  Hicks,  moved  in  February. 
Tristram  Thomas  was  major  in  this  command,  and  John 
Andrews,  adjutant,  Edmund  Irby,  Thomas  Ellerbe,  Stephen 
Jackson,  and  Maurice  Murphy  commanded  comiianies. 

Capt.  James  Gregg's  company  formed  part  of  a  detach- 
ment under  JNIajor  Thoruby.  They  remained  at  the  Ten 
mile  House  (near  Charles-town),  two  months,  when  their 
term  of  service  expired.  Just  then  Sir  H.  Clinton 
approached  the  city,  when  Major  Thornby  and  other  officers 
proposed  to  their  men  to  volunteer  for  its  defence.  They 
did  so  unanimously,  and  marched  in  and  remained  in  the 
city  until  the  capitulation.  The  late  George  M'Calljf  of 
Darlington  District,  then  quite  a  young  man  and  active 
in  every  patriot  service,  was  a  member  of  Capt.  Gregg's 
company.  He  was  also  under  his  command  in  Charles- 
town  during  the  previous  year. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  a  body  of  North  Carolina 
INIilitia  under  Col.  Henry  Wm.  Harrington,  reached  the 
city,  having  entered  by  way  of  Addison's  Ferry.  Major 
Lemuel  BentouJ  appears  to  have  remained  on  the  Pedee,  with 
a  sufficient  force  for  the  protection  of  the  inhabitants  against 
the  Tories.  Col.  Harrington  left  Charles-town  before  the 
fall  of  the  city  for  urgent  public  reasons,  as  aj)pears  from 
the  following  letter  to  Mrs.  Harrington. 

"  George-town,  30  April,  1780. 
"  I  am  now  in  George- town,  sixty  miles  nearer 
than  I  was  last  Friday  morning,  at  which  time  I  left  Charles- 


*  The  following  record  remains  : — "  Reed,  of  Thomas  Powe,  Commissary  of 

Colonel  Hick's  Regiment,  1600  pounds  of  corn  flour,  three  large  steers,  200  lbs. 

of  pork,  20  busls.  of  corn,  for  the  use  of  1st  division  of  said  Regt.,  on  march  to 

Charles-town.  ,,  .  „        » 

"Abel  Kolb. 

f  George  !M'Call  was  born  on  Lynche's  Creek,  in  1760.  Immediately  after 
the  Revolution,  he  removed  to  Georgia,  and  remained  until  1789,  when  he  re- 
turned to  South  Carolina,  and  settled  in  Darlington  District,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death. 

X  In  Rev.  Mr.  Pugh's  journal,  April  10th,  1780,  appears  this  entry,  viz. : — 
"  Preached  at  the  Lake,  Zach.  ix.  12,  to  army  under  Major  Benton."  This  was 
doubtless  Lowder's  Lake,  in  Darlington  District. 


302  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

towiij  witli  the  advice  and  unanimous  consent  of  the 
Lieut.-Governor  and  Council,  and  by  Genl.  Lincoln's  order, 
and  am  now  on  my  route  for  Newbern,  there  to  take  my 
seat  in  Assembly ;  and  to  request^  in  behalf  of  South  Caro- 
lina^  a  large  and  immediate  aid  of  North  Carolina  Militia. 

"  H.  W.  Harrington/' 

The  news  of  the  fall  of  Charles-town  spread  rapidly 
through  the  State,  causing  the  wildest  alarm  among  the 
desponding,  and  for  a  time  almost  despairing  inhabitants. 
Families  were  thrown  into  a  state  of  the  deepest  anxiety  for 
their  absent  members,  not  knowing  what  had  befallen  them, 
or  how,  though  their  lives  had  been  spared,  they  would  be 
treated  by  the  foe.  The  most  exaggerated  reports  were  put 
in  circulation,  growing  as  they  went,  which  added  much  for 
a  short  time  to  the  general  distress.  As  an  example  of  this, 
the  case  of  Major  Robert  Lide  may  be  mentioned.  He  had 
been  hurried  with  a  detachment  from  Pedee  at  the  last 
moment,  for  the  relief  of  the  beleaguered  city  ;  but,  before 
reaching  it,  the  capitulation  took  place. 

His  anxious  wife  was  walking  out  when  the  news  reached 
her  of  the  sad  reverse;  and  with  a  feeble  constitution 
already  giving  way  under  the  burden  of  previous  suspense, 
she  passed  into  a  swoon,  was  borne  insensible  to  the  house, 
and  never  recovered  from  the  shock. 

In  the  journal  of  Mr.Pugh,  the  following  entries  appear:— 

"  May  17.  Had  the  news  of  Charles-town  taken. 

"  May  18.  Preached  at  Cashway — a  fast  day. 

"  May  22.  At  home — much  terrified  about  the  English 
Light  Horse  coming. 

"  May  23.  Had  certain  news  of  Charles-town  being  in  the 
hands  of  the  British  army.   Our  men  came  up.    Mr.  Hart  up.^' 

The  report  of  the  Light  Horse  coming  was  but  too  well 
founded.  It  proved  to  be  the  rapid  and  devastating  march 
of  Major  Wemys,  to  reap  the  first  fruits  on  the  Pedee  of 
the  recent  success,  and  to  fasten  upon  the  popular  mind  the 
idea  that  the  State  was  lost  beyond  recovery.  The  British 
conceived  themselves  in  possession  of  the  rights  of  sove- 
reignty over  a  conquered  country,  and  that  therefore  the 
efforts  of  the  citizens  to  assert  their  independence  any  fur- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  303 

tlier^  was  chargeable  with  the  complicated  guilt  of  ingrati- 
tude, treason,  aud  rebellion. 

Influenced  by  these  opinions,  and  transported  with  indig- 
nation against  the  inhabitants,  they  violated  rights  m  Inch  arc 
held  sacred  between  independent  hostile  nations.  In  almost 
every  district  their  progress  was  marked  with  blood,  and 
with  deeds  so  atrocious  that  they  reflected  disgrace  on  their 
arms.  This  was  emphatically  true  of  Major  Wemys,  of  the 
63rd  regiment.  He  marched,  soon  after  the  fall  of  Charles- 
town,  from  George-town  to  Cheraw,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  destroying  property  of  every  description,  and  treating 
the  inhabitants  with  relentless  cruclt3^ 

The  d^vcliiugs  of  Nathan  Savage  at  the  mouth  of  Lynchers 
Creek,  of  Jordan  Gibson  at  Little  Bluff",  or  Wiggin's  Land- 
ing, and  of  Moses  Murphy  in  the  same  neighbourhood,  with 
many  others,  were  burned.  Among  the  first  to  feel  the 
effects  of  the  fmy  of  this  merciless  officer,  was  Adam  Cusack, 
a  noted  Whig,  who  had  rendered  himself  particularly  ob- 
noxious to  the  enemies  of  his  country.-  He  had  neither 
taken  parole  as  a  prisoner  nor  protection  as  a  British  sub- 
ject ;  and  was  charged  with  no  other  crime  than  refusing  to 
transport  some  British  officers  over  a  ferry,  and  shooting  at 
them  across  a  river."^  Another  account  states  that  he  had 
shot  at  the  black  servant  of  a  Tory  officer,  John  Brockington, 
whom  he  knew,  across  Black  Creek.  He  was  taken  prisoner 
soon  after,  and  for  this  offence  tried  by  a  court  martial,  and, 
on  the  evidence  of  the  negro,  condemned. f  His  wife  and 
childi'en  prosti'ated  themselves  before  Wemys  as  he  was  on 
horseback,  for  a  pardon,  who  would  have  ridden  over  them, 
had  not  one  of  his  own  officers  prevented  the  foul  deed. 
From  this  scene  he  proceeded  on  to  superintend  the  execu- 
tion. Cusack  was  carried  to  Long  Bluff"  and  hung.J 
Dr.  James  P.  Wilson  made  an  earnest  eff"ort  to  save  his  life, 
and  came  very  near  involving  himself  in  a  serious  difficulty 
with  the  British  officer.      Wemys  lost  no  time  in  pursuing 


*  Eamsiiy's  "  Revolution,"  vol.  ii.  p.  156. 
•f-  James's  "  Life  of  Marion,"  p.  58. 
+  He  was  hung  about  the  spot  first  occupied  by  the  depot  of  the  Cheraw  and 
Darlington  Railroad,   at  the  foot  of  tlie  hill,   below  the  village  of  Society  Hill, 
then  on  the  public  road  leading  from  Cheraw  to  George-town. 


304  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

his  way,  and  calling  the  people  to  submission.  He  reached 
Cheraw  early  in  June. 

The  following  extracts  from  Mr.  PugVs  journal  will  give, 
in  few  words,  the  sad  picture  of  the  conqueror^s  progress. 

"  June  1 1 .  Went  up  to  the  Cheraws  to  surrender  myself 
to  the  British ;  lodged  at  Col.  Lide's. 

"  Monday,  12th.  Signed  parole,  as   a  Prisoner  of  War." 

Agitated  and  distressed,  and  scarcely  knowing  what  to  do, 
he  appears  to  have  repented  of  his  course,  as  a  subsequent 
entry  indicates. 

"  Thursday,  22.  Went  to  the  Court  House  in  order  to 
give  up  my  parole,  but  could  not  do  it. 

"  Thursday,  29th.  Went  to  Dr.  Mills's,  took  the  Oath  of 
Allegiance  to  the  King  ;  and  home. 

"  Saturday,  July  2.  Went  to  preach  at  Cashway,  began 
my  sermon,  but  the  congregation  broke  up  by  the  re  (bels !) 
taking  the  horses.'" 

Dr.  Mills  had  either  not  sympathized  heartily  with  his 
country  at  the  first,  or  was  possessed  of  one  of  those  easy 
consciences  which  adapts  itself  with  facility  to  a  change  of 
circumstances.  He  gave  in  his  adhesion  at  once  to  the 
enemy;  and  from  that  time  became  a  determined  foe  to 
the  American  cause.  He  was  an  evil  counsellor  for  every 
desponding  patriot  within  his  reach,  but,  in  due  season, 
paid  the  penalty  of  his  guilt.  The  declaration  of  allegiance 
imposed  upon  many  of  the  people,  was  in  these  words  : — 
"  I,  A.  B.,  do  hereby  acknowledge  and  declare  myself  to  be 
a  true  and  faithful  subject  to  his  Majesty,  the  King  of 
Great  Britain,  and  that  I  will  at  all  times  hereafter  be  obe- 
dient to  his  government ;  and  that  whenever  I  shall  be 
thereunto  required,  I  will  be  ready  to  maintain  and  defend 
the  same  against  all  persons  Avhatsoever." 

While  Wemys  was  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Long  Bluff, 
Dr.  Wilson's  house  was  burned,  and  such  of  his  property  as 
came  within  reach  of  the  enemy,  was  destroyed.  His  wife 
was  forced  to  seek  shelter  at  Charlotte,  North  Carolina. 

The  dwelling  of  Capt.  Wm.  Dewitt,"^  on  Cedar  Creek,  on 


*  About  the  spot  where  the  late  Judge  Evans  resided.  The  late  Major 
John  Dewitt,  of  Society  Hill,  was  a  lad  of  fourteen  or  fifteen,  and  went  with 
his  fivther's  family  to  Guilford. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  305 

tliis,  or  a  subsequent  occasion,  was  also  destroyed.  On  the 
approach  of  the  British,  Capt.  Dewitt  took  his  family  to 
Guilford,  N.  C,  but  immediately  returned  himself,  and  took 
an  active  part  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

When  called  upon  to  take  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  to  the 
King,  he  is  said  to  have  drawn  with  his  sword  a  circle  on 
the  ground,  indicating  that  spot  to  be  his  country,  and 
standing  thereon,  to  have  uttered  words  of  proud  defiance 
to  those  who  would  thus  have  prohibited  him  from  his  sacred 
fealty  as  an  inhabitant  of  Carolina  and  an  American  citizen. 
Similar  to  this  in  tone,  was  the  spirited  reply  of  Thomas 
Ayer,  who,  when  urged  by  Magnus  Corgill  and  other  neigh- 
bours to  take  protection,  and  told,  that  if  he  refused,  his 
property  would  be  confiscated,  warmly  replied,  "  the  ques- 
tion was  not  one  of  property,  but  liberty  !" 

Many  of  the  inhabitants  submitted,  others  yielded  nomi- 
nally, intending  to  resist  upon  the  first  opportunity,  while 
not  a  few  hurriedly  removed  with  their  families,  servants, 
and  other  personal  effects,  to  places  of  safety,  leaving  their 
dwellings  to  the  mercy  of  the  enemy,  but  returning  them- 
selves to  repel  the  foe. 

Those  of  the  Whigs  who  so  far  submitted  as  to  take  the 
oath,  intending  not  to  keep  it,  felt,  that  being  forced  upon 
tliem,  it  was  not  binding.  John  Wilson  and  James  Gilles- 
pie, then  young  men,  with  a  neighbour,  had  been  to 
Cheraw  to  swear  allegiance.  After  crossing  the  river  on 
their  return,  they  rode  for  some  time  in  silence,  as  if 
absorbed  in  thought,  and  afraid  to  utter  their  sentiments ; 
at  length  one  of  them  said,  "  Well,  I  don't  think  that 
amounted  to  much'' — and  thereupon,  all  joined  in  a  hearty 
laugh,  finding  a  perfect  agreement  of  opinion  on  the 
subject. 

The  atrocities  perpetrated  by  the  British  and  Tories,  for 
the  latter  gladly  followed  in  the  train  of  the  conqueror,  only 
served  to  drive  the  Whigs  to  desperation,  and  led  to  a 
terrible  revenge  when  the  time  arrived  for  throwing  off  the 
yoke.  And  that  time  was  not  long  in  coming ;  for  no 
sooner  had  the  British  withdrawn,  than  the  spirit  of 
liberty,  crushed,  but  not  subdued,  began  to  rise  to  the 
ascendant. 


306  HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHEEAWS." 

On  the  25tli  of  July^  Mr.  Pugh  wrote  these  few  hut 
pregnant  words  :  "  The  people  in  arms  against  the  English/^ 
Major  Wemys,  after  accomplishing  the  objects  of  his 
bloody  visit,  returned  to  George- town,  to  pollute  no  more 
the  upper  parts  of  the  Pedee  with  his  presence.  And  yet, 
this  man,  who  had  been  guilty  of  so  many  atrocities,  was 
made  the  recipient  of  that  generous  return  Avhicli  the  in- 
jured people  of  Carolina  so  often  extended  to  their  heartless 
oppressors.*  On  the  12th  of  the  following  November,  in 
attempting  to  surprise  General  Sumpter,  near  Fish  Dam  Ford, 
on  Broad  River,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  having  been  severely 
wounded  in  the  engagement.  He  had  in  his  pocket  a  list 
of  the  houses  he  had  burned  at  Williamsburgh  and  Pedee  : 
with  great  trepidation  he  showed  it  to  Sumpter,  and  begged 
he  would  protect  him  from  the  militia.  Notwithstanding 
his  atrocities,  he  was  treated  with  indulgence,  but  became  a 
cripple  for  life.t 

Up  to  this  time,  the  nearest  posts  to  the  Cheraw  District 
held  by  the  British,  were  George-town  and  Camden.  A 
position  was  now  to  be  taken  on  the  Upper  Pedee,  to  add 
to  the  lengthening  and  tightening  chain,  and  to  the  alarm 
and  suffering  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton, 
of  June  4th,  1780,  to  the  Hon.  George  Gervain,  one  of  his 
Majesty^s  principal  Secretaries  of  State,  will  convey  some 
idea  of  the  condition  of  things  in  Carolina,  as  viewed  at 
least  by  the  British  Commander,  and  the  feeling  of  the 
enemy  : — 

"With  the  greatest  pleasure,"  he  said,  ''  I  farther  report 
to  your  lordship,  that  the  inhabitants  from  every  quarter 
repair  to  the  detachments  of  the  army,  and  to  this  garrison 
(Charles-town),  to  declare  their  allegiance  to  the  King,  and 
to  offer  their  services  in  arms  for  the  support  of  the  Go- 
vernment. In  many  instances  they  haA^e  brought  in  as 
prisoners  their  former  oppressors  or  leaders ;  and  I  may 
venture  to  assert,  that  there  are  few  men  in  South  Carolina 
who  are  not  either  our  prisoners  or  in  arms  with  us.^^J 


*  Eamsay's  "  Revolution,"  vol.  ii.  pp.  188,  89. 
t  James's  "  Life  of  Marion,"  p.  73. 
X  Tarleton's    "  Memoirs,"   p.  80.      This  interesting  work,  and  one  indis- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIEKAWS.  307 

Sir  Henry  Clinton  now  left  for  the  Nortli^  and  his  com- 
mand devolved  on  Lord  Cornwallis.  A  temporary  period 
seems  to  have  been  put  to  any  organized  resistance  in  Caro- 
lina. A  partisan  warfare,  however,  was  here  and  there  kept 
up,  especially  with  the  Tories,  who  were  now  bold  and  con- 
stantly marauding,  wreaking  their  vengeance  with  bitter 
malignity  on  the  Whigs  of  Pedee. 

Emissaries  were  despatched  by  Lord  Cornwallis  to  North 
Carolina,  with  instructions  to  some  of  the  leading  Royalists 
of  that  State,  to  "  attend  to  the  harvest,  to  prppare  provi- 
sions, and  to  remain  quiet  till  the  King's  troops  were  ready 
to  advance,  about  the  latter  part  of  August  or  early  in  Sep- 
tember ;  that  interval  of  time  being  deemed  indispensably 
requisite  for  the  construction  of  magazines,  with  properly 
secured  communications,  for  a  clear  establishment  of  the 
militia,  and  for  a  final  adjustment  of  their  civil  and  military 
regulations  which  in  future  were  to  govern  Georgia  and 
South  Carolina."^ 

Early  in  June,  Lord  Cornwallis  made  such  a  disposition 
of  the  British  troops  as  to  establish  a  thoroughly  organized 
line  of  posts  upon  the  frontiers  of  the  State. 

"  Major  M^ Arthur,  with  the  71st  Regiment  (Highlanders), 
was  stationed  at  the  Cheraws,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Pedee 
River,  to  cover  the  country  between  Camden  and  George- 
town, and  to  hold  correspondence  with  a  friendly  settlement 
at  Cross  Creek,t  in  North  Carolina."  It  was  also  said, 
"  Besides  the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  another  material  ad- 
vantage resulted  from  this  disposition  of  the  king's  troops. 
The  officers  and  men  of  the  different  regiments  and  corps 
were  supplied  by  the  flour  and  cattle,  whilst  the  horses  were 
foraged  by  the  produce  of  the  country ;  any  expenditure  of 
the  provisions  brought  across  the  Atlantic  was  unknown,^ 
except  in  Charles-town  and  Savannah. "J 

In  a  letter  of  the  30th  of  June,  to  Sir  II.  Clinton,  Lord 


pensable  to  a  thorough  understanding  of  the  Revolution  in  Carolina,  is  written 
in  the  best  style  of  niilltnry  history,  and  throws  much  light,  not  otherwise  to 
be  had,  on  all  connected  with  the  movements  of  the  British  forces,  and  the 
general  plan  of  their  campaigns. 

*  Tarleton's  "  Memoirs,"  p.  85.  f  Now  Fayetteville. 

I  "  Tarleton,"  pp.  87,  88. 

X  2 


308  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Cornwallis  said  :  "  I  have  agreed  to  a  proposal  made  by  Mr. 
Harrison^  to  raise  a  provincial  corps  of  five  hundred  men, 
with  the  rank  of  Major,  to  be  composed  of  the  natives  of 
the  country  between  the  Pedee  and  Wateree,  and  in  which 
it  is  extremely  probable  that  he  will  succeed."^ 

The  Tories  on  Lynchers  Creek,  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
M'Callum's  Ferry,  committed  many  murders  and  depreda- 
tions. They  were  headed  by  the  two  Harrisons,  to  one  of 
whom  Cornwallis  refers.  It  was  he,  doubtless,  who  was 
afterwards  a  colonel,  the  other  becoming  a  major,  in  the 
British  service,  and  both  called  by  Tarleton,  men  of  fortune. 
They  were,  in  fact,  two  of  the  greatest  banditti  that  ever 
infested  the  country.  The  proposed  plan  of  a  provincial 
corps  was  never  carried  out.  Before  the  fall  of  Charles- 
town  these  brothers  lived  in  a  wretched  log  hut,  by  the  road 
near  M'Callum^s,  in  which  there  was  no  bed  covering  but 
the  skins  of  wild  beasts.  During  the  contest  the  major 
was  killed ;  after  it  was  over,  the  colonel  retired  to  Jamaica, 
with  much  wealth,  acquired  by  depredation. f 

M'Arthur  reached  Cheraw  some  time  during  the  month 
of  June.  The  parish  church  was  called  into  requisition  for 
a  portion  of  his  force,  and  traces  are  yet  to  be  seen  some 
distance  out  on  the  southern  line  of  the  town  of  the  tempo- 
rary barracks  erected.  According  to  tradition,  M^ Arthur 
and  other  officers  were  not  wanting  in  courtesy  to  the  ladies 
of  the  vicinity,  and  as  a  conseqvience  were  treated  with  such 
a  degree  of  civility  as  the  necessities  of  the  case  made  im- 
perative. The  soldiers,  however,  were  not  restrained ;  and 
many  persons  in  the  neighbourhood  were  plundered  and 
treated  with  indignity. 

Numerous  incidents  are  related  of  the  sufferings  and 
losses  of  the  inhabitants  during  the  brief  sojourn  of  the 
enemy. 

The  report  reached  Western  South  Carolina,  at  Camp  Ca- 
tawba,t  Old  Nation,  about  the  4th  of  July,  that  Gen.  Caswell, 


*  Tarleton  p.  117.  "f"  James's  "  Marion,"'  p.  45. 

X  Letter  from  a  Mr.  Williams  to  liis  wife,  of  4th  July,  from  Camp  Catawba. 
Gibbe's  "Documentary  History,"  1776-S2,  p.  135. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAVVS.  309 

of  the  North  Carolina  line^  had  defeated  the  British   at  tlic ' 
Cheraws,  and  cut  off  the  71st  Regiment  entirely.      But  this 
was  a  mistake.      The  enemy  was  yet  to  remain  there    for  a 
brief  season  triumphant. 

On  the  5th  of  July,  General  Caswell  wrote  to  General 
Harrington  fi-om  "  Camp  ten  miles  south  of  Ramsay,"  as 
follows  : — 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  had  your  favor  from  Chatham  Court  House, 
and  also  one  from  Col.  Collier,  and  am  much  obliged  by 
your  information. 

"  Nothing  new  has  happened  in  this  part  of  the  country 
since  your  departure.  Donaldson's  party  left  him  at  Cole's 
Bridge  last  Friday  night,  on  the  approach  of  400  horse,  they 
say  from  the  Cheraws,  200  of  which  were  British;  since 
which  I  have  heard  nothing  from  that  quarter.  ■  I  shall 
wait  on  the  Baron  de  Kalb  to-day,  and  will  fix  the  time  and 
place  of  our  joining.  He  is  to  be  this  day  at  Wilcox's  Iron 
Works.  If  it  will  not  be  attended  with  danger  to  the  troops 
to  move  from  Salisbury,  I  presume  Gen.  Rutherford  will 
join  me,  in  consequence  of  my  letter  by  your  favor,  on  the 
upj)er  part  of  Deej)  River.  Pray  present  my  compliments 
to  the  General,  and  let  him  know  I  expect  to  hear  from  him 
on  that  subject  daily. 

"  From  you,  I  flatter  myself  I  shall  frequently  hear, 
"  I  am,  with  great  esteem,  dear  Sir, 

"  Your  most  obedient  servant,  * 

"  R.  Caswell. 

"  Brigadier-General  Harrington." 

Soon    after  M' Arthur's   arrive!  at  Cheraw,  he   went  down 
the  river  with  a  detachment,  and  made  his  head-quarters  for 
a    short  time  at  Long  Bluff".      His  force  was  large   enough        ^ 
to  admit  of  division,  and  to  keep  the  country  in  awe.  •  - 

While  at  Long  Bluff",  he  offered  a  handsome  reward  for 
the  capture  of  Thomas  Ayer.  Ayer  had  made  himself  con- 
spicuous a  short  time  before,  as  the  leader  of  a  company 
which  had  been  sent  out  to  take  some  bold  and  mischievous 


»  , 


310  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

persons^  who  had  rendered  themselves  obnoxious  to  the 
inhabitants  by  their  lawless  depredations. 

Having  succeeded  in  capturing  a  portion  of  the  band,  he 
secured  the  country  against  any  more  of  their  ravages  by 
hanging  them  all. 

Tlie  effect  of  the  reward  offered  for  Ayer,  was  his  cap- 
ture by  a  party  of  Tory  neiglibours.  They  kept  vigilant 
watch  for  him,  and  caught  him  while  on  a  brief  and 
cautious  visit  to  his  family.  He  came  up  at  night,  and 
keeping  close  during  the  day,  intended  to  leave  for  camp  the 
following  night ;  but,  late  in  the  afternoon,  sixteen  Tories 
galloped  up  to  the  house  and  secured  him.  They  tied  him 
with  buck-skin  strings,  furnished  by  old  Magnus  Corgill  for 
the  purpose,  and  hurried  him  off  toward  the  river,  intending 
to  take  him  immediately  to  M' Arthur,  But,  by  the  time 
they  reached  Hunt's  Bluff,  a  terrific  thunderstorm  had  blown 
up,  and  fearing  to  cross  the  river  and  prosecute  their  jour- 
ney through  the  swamp  in  the  darkness  of  such  a  night, 
they  concluded  to  keep  their  prisoner  in  an  old  unoccupied 
house  on  the  bank  until  morning.  George  Manderson,  the 
leader  of  the  party,  apprehending  no  danger  from  any 
quarter,  left  Ayer  in  charge  of  the  others,  and  went  down 
with  one  of  his  companions,  Tom  John,  to  get  supper  and 
sleep  at  old  Jonathan  John's.  Relief  was  soon  to  overtake 
the  now  despairing  Ayer.  A  few  hours  after  the  Tories  left 
his  residence,  his  elder  brother,  Hartwell,  with  five  Geor- 
gians, rode  up  very  unexpectedly  to  the  family.  The  names 
of  these  timely  visitors  were — Willifim  Cooper,  James 
Nephew,  Charles  Tharp,  John  Tharp,  and  Joseph  Plummer. 

Upon  being  informed  of  what  had  occurred,  Hartwell  Ayer 
and  his  companions  set  out  in  immediate  pursuit,  and  took 
the  Tory  party  completely  by  siirprise.  They  approached 
under  cover  of  the  darkness  and  tempest,  and  were  at  the 
door  before  being  discovered.  Most  of  the  party  within 
were  asleep.  Shooting  first  those  who  were  up,  they  con- 
tinued to  fire  and  despatch  with  the  sabre  and  bayonet  until 
all  were  killed,  except  A  sal  John.  Being  a  son  of  his  old 
neighbour,  who  was  a  peaceable  man,  Thomas  Ayer  pro- 
tected him  with  his  own  body,  and  induced  the   captors    to 


UISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  311 

spare  his  life.  Tlieu  mountiug  tlie  horse  of  Dick  Owen, 
one  of  the  Tories  just  killed,  he  returned  with  all  possible 
speed  to  his  family,  not  knowing  what  might  have  befallen 
them.  Upon  learning  the  whereabouts  of  George  Man- 
derson  and  Tom  John,  Hart  well  Aycr  and  his  companions 
went  off  in  pursuit.  Riding  up  cautiously  to  old  Johu^s 
residence,  they  civilly  inquired  for  Captain  Manderson,* 
who,  as  he  appeared  at  the  door,  was  saluted  with  a  shower 
of  bullets.  Though  struck  by  several  balls,  the  wounds 
inflicted  were  slight ;  and  springing  through  the  back  door 
of  the  house,  he  made  his  escape  to  the  swamp,  whieh  was 
near  at  hand.  Tom  John  was  not  so  fortunate.  He  was 
knocked  down  Avith  the  butt  of  an  old  musket,  and  then 
pinned  to  the  floor  with  the  bayonet,  remaining  in  that 
condition  as  the  gun  was  jerked  off,  and  supposed  to  be  dead. 
But,  on  the  bayonet  being  removed,  he  arose,  and  proved  to 
be  not  seriously  injured.  He  lived  several  years  afterwards. 
When  informed  of  the  rescue  of  Ayer,  and  the  slaughter  of 
the  Tories,  M'Arthur  was  more  enraged  than  ever.  He 
determined  to  go  in  person  and  take  vengeance.  Cross- 
ing the  river  with  a  strong  party,  he  came  very  near 
surprising  the  family,  then  at  home,  consisting  of  Mrs. 
Ayer  and  her  sons,  Lewis  Malone  and  Zaccheus,  both 
of  whom  were  lads.  They  made  a  timely  escape,  how- 
ever, to  the  swamp,  which  was  near  by,  and  there  remained 
in  concealment  several  weeks,  being  supplied  with  food  by 
their  good  neighbour,  James  Sweat. f  M"^ Arthur  took  pos- 
session of  the  deserted  premises,  killed  the  stock,  destroyed 
most  of  the  fencing,  and  burned  all  the  buildings  except  a 
large  crib,  which  he  spared  on  account  of  the  corn  it  con- 
tained, meaning  to   appropriate  it  to  the  use  of  his  troops. 


*  Captain  Mandersou  removed  after  the  Revolution  to  Georgia,  and  settled 
on  the  Savannah  River.  He  died  about  the  year  1794.  William  Cooper  and 
James  Nephew,  of  the  band  of  Georgians,  were  half  brothers.  They  lived  at 
Sapello,  Georgia,  long  after  the  war  was  over. 

f  Mr.  Sweat  was  then  quite  a  young  man.  He  afterwards  became  a  Bap- 
tist preacher,  and  removed  to  the  south-western  part  of  the  State,  where  some 
of  his  descendants  are  still  living. 

Nathan,  an  elder  brother  of  William  Sweat,  was  a  brave  and  active  Whig. 
Their  father,  who  was  then  an  old  man  and  uitirm,  lived  quietly,  and  was  un- 
disturbed by  any  one. 


312  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

It  was,  however,  subsequently  taken  off  and  secured  by  the 
friends  of  the  family.  Every  valuable  negro  was  carried 
away,  with  others  belonging  to  different  persons  in  the 
neighbourhood.  The  now  empty  crib  became  the  dwelling  of 
the  family  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

Nathan  Sweat  was  captured  by  M*^ Arthur's  party,  and 
carried  to  their  quarters  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  above. 
He  remained  long  enough  with  them  to  discover  their 
fleetest  horse ;  and,  watching  a  favorable  opportunity, 
mounted  the  animal  and  bade  his  captors  adieu.  He  was 
pursued,  but  succeeded  in  reaching  the  swamp  below,  and 
made  his  escape.  On  the  following  morning,  while  sitting 
on  his  horse  at  his  mother^s  door,  and  in  the  act  of  receiving 
food  from  her  hands,  the  old  lady  discovered  the  approach 
of  a  hostile  party,  and  cried  out,  "  Nathan,  the  enemy  are 
upon  you."  Again  putting  spurs  to  the  noble  steed,  which 
had  outstripped  his  pursuers  the  day  before,  he  made  good 
his  escape,  congratulating  himself,  doubtless,  as  the  distance 
widened  between  them,  on  his  correct  judgment  of  a  horse, 
to  which  he  owed  his  life. 

After  his  return  to  Cheraw,  M'Arthur  sent  a  detachment 
up  the  river  on  a  plundering  expedition.  On  their  approach- 
ing the  residence  of  General  Harrington,  in  Richmond 
county^  Mrs.  H.,  who  was  at  home,  discovered  them  in  time 
to  have  a  horse  secreted  in  an  out-building,  which,  for- 
tunately, was  not  disturbed.  Such  of  the  negroes  as  did 
not  escape  were  taken,  and  carried,  with  the  live-stock,  to 
Cheraw.  The  overseer  was  tied,  and  made  to  accompany 
them.  Mrs.  Harrington,  who  was  most  distressed  at  the 
capture  of  the  servants,  fearing  they  would  be  carried  en- 
tirely away,  followed  on,  to  recover  them,  if  possible. 
M' Arthur  told  her  she  could  have  them  if  they  would  go 
with  her.  But,  being  probably  captivated  with  the  idea  of 
freedom,  they  preferred  remaining  where  they  were,  with 
the  exception  of  a  woman  and  her  family,  who  went  back 
with  their  mistress. 

The  most  of  these  and  other  negroes  taken  by  the  enemy 
were  recaptured  upon  the  breaking  up  of  the  British  post 
at  Cheraw.  The  difficulty  in  the  way  of  the  enemy  was  to 
get  any  considerable  body  of  slaves  to  the  coast.      The  only 


niSTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  313 

apparently  feasible  means  was  by  tlie  river  in  boats,  and  the 
attempt  thus  to  transport  them  proved  to  be  ineffectual.  A 
few  negro  men  Avere  carried  off  with  the  troops,  and  never 
recovered.''^  Captain  Thomas  Ellerbe,  who  lived  a  few  miles 
below  Cheraw,  suffered  severely  in  the  loss  of  property. 
Many  horses  were  taken  from  him,  of  which  he  had  a  large 
number.  Having  become  obnoxious  as  an  active  Whig,  he 
was  obliged  to  secrete  himself  from  the  enemy.  As  ma- 
rauding parties  Avould  go  to  the  house  to  demand  a  fresh 
supply  of  horses,  !Mrs.  Ellerbe,  who  would  not  have  dared 
flatly  to  refuse,  was  sometimes  relieved  by  the  faithfulness 
and  sagacity  of  one  or  two  servants,  who  kept  the  horses  in 
the  recesses  of  the  swamp,  driving  them  from  place  to 
place,  their  mistress  not  being  informed  of  their  movements  ; 
she  could  only  plead  ignorance,  and  thus  her  husband^s 
property  was  saved.  Captain  Ellerbe  lost  not  a  few  negroes. 
Claudius  Pegues  had  also  a  number  taken  by  the  enemy 
while  at  Cheraw,  the  most  of  whom  escaped,  and  subse- 
quently returned  to  their  master.  One  of  these  was  treated 
with  great  cruelty  by  the  British.  His  account  was,  that 
they  ordered  him  to  ride,  and  because  he  fell  off  several 
times,  they  hacked  him  with  their  swords,  leaving  him,  as 
they  supposed,  dead  by  the  road-side.  He  managed  to 
crawl  home,  and  eventually  recovered,  though  shockingly 
mangled.  ' 

The  form  of  legality  was  sometihies  given  to  acts  of 
plundering.  An  originalf  receipt  or  certificate  is  in  these 
words  : —  ' 

"  Got  at  Philip  Pledger's  house,  eight  horses  for  his 
Majesty's  service. 

"  By  Thomas  Hamilton, 
"July  23, 1780.  "  Lieut.  71st  Regt.-'^ 

*  Of  those  taken  off  on  this  occasion,  was  a  servant  of  General  Harrington, 
named  Cuflee.  He  was  noted  for  his  remarkably  valuable  traits  of  character. 
He  was  supposed  to  have  been  carried  with  the  British  on  their  return  to  Cam- 
den. He  subsequently  passed  into  the  hands  of  Captain  Campbell,  a  British 
officer,  who  settled  after  the  Revolution  on  Pedee. 

General  Harrington   brought  a    suit  in    Cheraws   District  for  his   recovery. 
The  damages  found  were  large,  and  only  to  be  discharged  by  the  delivery  of  the 
negro.     Rather  than   pay  the  amount.  Captain  Campbell  sent   to   Jamaica   for 
Cuflee,  where  he  had  been  trans-ported,  and  delivered  him  to  his  master. 
t  The  original  is  in  the  Author's  possession. 


314  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

But  the  Whigs  in  this  section  were  not  to  contribute 
much  longer  to  an  imperious  and  unsparing  foe.  A  change 
was  rapidly  approaching. 

In  a  letter  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  dated  Charles-town, 
July  14th,  1780,  Lord  Cornwallis  said  :  "  The  Government 
of  North  Carolina  is  likewise  making  great  exertions  [he 
had  referred  to  A^irginia]  to  raise  troops,  and  persecuting 
our  friends  in  the  most  cruel  manner ;  in  consequence  of 
which,  Colonel  Bryan,  although  he  had  promised  to  wait 
for  my  orders,  lost  all  patience,  and  rose  with  about  800 
men,  on  the  Yadkin  ;  and  by  a  difficult  and  dangerous  march, 
joined  M'Arthur  on  the  borders  of  Anson  County.  About 
two-thirds  only  of  his  people  were  armed,  and  these,  I  be- 
lieve, but  indifferently.''"^ 

Colonel  Bryan  was  a  noted  loyalist,  and  great  things  were 
expected  of  him  ;  but,  being  of  a  timorous  and  undecided 
spirit,  he  accomplished  little.  On  the  march  to  Cheraws, 
he  was  actively  pursued  by  General  Rutherford,  but  had 
the  address  to  elude  himf 

"  The  news  brought  by  these  loyalists  created  some 
astonishment  in  the  military,  and  diffused  universal  con- 
sternation among  the  inhabitants  of  South  Carolina.  They 
reported  that  Major- General  De  Kalb,  a  French  officer  in 
the  American  service,  was  advancing  from  Salisbury  with  a 
large  body  of  Continentals  ;  that  Colonel  Porterfield  was 
bringing  State  troops  from  Virginia  ;  that  General  Caswell 
had  raised  a  jDowerful  force  in  North  Carolina  ;  and  that 
Colonel  Sumpter  had  already  entered  the  Catawba,  a  settle- 
ment contiguous  to  the  Wacsaws.  These  accounts  being 
propagated  and  artfully  exaggerated  by  the  enemies  within 
the  Province,  caused  a  wonderful  fermentation  in  the  minds 
of  the  Americans,  which  neither  the  lenity  of  the  British 
Government,  the  solemnity  of  their  paroles,  by  which  their 
persons  and  property  enjoyed  protection,  nor  the  memory 
of  the  undeserved  pardon  so  lately  extended  to  many  of 
them,  had  sufficient  strength  to  retain  in  a  state  of  submis- 
sion or  neutrality.      Whilst    the    Americans  were  collecting 


*  "  Tarleton's  "  Memoirs,"  p.   119. 
t  Lee's  "  Memoirs  of  Southern  Campaign,"  vol.  i.  pp.  158,  159. 


PIISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  315 

their  forces,  Lord  RaAvdon  made  occasional  alterations  upon 
the  frontier,  in  order  to  confirm  the  adherence  of  the  loyal 
inhabitants,  and  to  obviate  the  designs  of  the  enemy.  .  .  . 
Some  detachments  were  sent  out ;  others  di'awn  in.  .  .  . 
Major  INf^ Arthur's  position  in  the  Cheraws  was  deemed 
too  forward,  aud  he  was  desired  to  retire  some  miles  into  the 
Province.''* 

So  Tarleton  afterwards  wrote.  The  subject  of  INI'' Arthur's 
position  and  movements  was  now  exciting  no  little  anxiety 
at  head-quarters.  On  loth  July,  Lord  Cornwallis  wrote  to 
Sir  H.  Clinton  :  "  I  have  just  received  intelligence  from 
Lord  Rawdon  that  De  Kalb  has  certainly  joined  Caswell  at 
Coxe's  plantation  on  Deep  River;  his  lordship  in  conse- 
quence has  withdrawn  Major  M'Arthur's  detachment  over 
the  Black  Creek,  where  he  means  to  join  him  with  two 
battalions,  and  post  Lieut.-Col.  Webster  on  Hanging  Rock 
Creek.  This  will  make  his  situation  pretty  compact,  but  I 
fear  the  enemy  will  make  incursions  into  the  country."t 
Appearances  were  daily  becoming  more  threatening  for  the 
enemy.  A  considerable  number  of  the  militia  of  North 
Carolina  had  taken  the  field,  and  agreed  to  rendezvous  at 
Anson  Court  House  on  the  20th  of  July,  that  they  might 
be  in  readiness  to  co-operate  with  the  Continental  army. J 
Anson  Court  House  was  about  thirty  miles  above  Cheraw 
on  the  river. 

"  On  the  24tli  of  July  General  Gates  arrived  in  the 
American  camp.  His  name  and  former  good  fortunes  re- 
animated the  exertions  of  the  countr}"- ;  provisions  were 
more  amply  supplied  by  the  inhabitants ;  and  the  Con- 
tinental troops  now  reached  the  frontiers  of  South  Caro- 
lina.§ 

It  Avas  now  manifest  that  INI^Arthur  would  be  forced  to 
make  a  precipitate  retreat  from  Pedee.  The  inhabitants 
Avere  greatly  encouraged,  and  ripe  for  revolt.  The  advance 
of  Gates  was  rousing  into  acti\dty  all  the  latent  energies  of 
the  State.  The  most  resolute  of  the  militia,  indignant  at 
the    treatment   they    had    received,    and   convinced   by  Sir 


*  "  Tarleton,"  pp.  91,  92.  f  Ibid.,  p.  120. 

X  Ramsay's  "  Revolution  in  S.  C,"  vol.  ii.  p.  139.       §  "  Tarleton,"  p.  97. 


316  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEEAWS. 

Henry  Clinton^s  proclamation,  which  had  been  faithfully- 
acted  on  by  Lord  Cornwallis,  that  repose  during  the  war 
was  a  chimerical  expectation,  determined  from  concealed 
enemies  to  become  open  foes.  On  the  day  that  the  British 
relinquished  their  post  at  Cheraw,  the  inhabitants,  distressed 
by  their  previous  depredations  and  disgusted  with  their  con- 
duct, took  up  arms.  Preparatory  to  his  departure,  M*^ Arthur 
had  made  an  arrangement  for  transporting  a  number  of  his 
sick,  with  the  captured  negroes,  by  boats  to  George -town. 
They  were  to  be  under  the  care  of  Lord  Nairne,  and  the 
whole  under  the  new-made  British  colonel,  William  Henry 
Mills,*  with  a  military  escort,  composed  of  a  portion  of  the 
militia  of  the  country  who  had  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance. 

Hearing  of  the  projected  expedition  down  the  river,  a 
party  of  neighbouriug  Whigs,  under  the  lead  of  James 
Gillespie,  collected  at  Bedingfiehrs,t  a  short  distance  from 
Cheraw,  and  determined  to  gather  a  larger  force  and  sur- 
prise the  enemy.  As  they  went  on  their  numbers  increased, 
and  the  command  was  assigned  to  Major  Tristram  Thomas. 
In  the  meantime,  with  the  departure  of  the  boats,  M^ Arthur 
commenced  his  retreat  towards  Black  Creek. 

The  Whigs  fixed  upon  Hunt's  Bluff  as  the  most  favor- 
able point  for  intercepting  the  expedition.  A  battery  of 
wooden  guns  was  hastily  constructed,  and  placed  imme- 
diately on  the  bank,  in  a  sudden  bend  of  the  river.  In  due 
season,  as  the  slowly-moving  flotilla  appeared,  the  most  im- 
posing demonstration  that  they  could  present  was  made  by 
the  command  of  the  gallant  Thomas,  and  an  unconditional 
surrender  demanded.  It  is  not  improbable  that  there  was 
a  secret  understanding  with  some  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
militia  under  Colonel  Mills.  However  this  may  have  been, 
no  resistance  was  attempted,  and  the  surprise  was  complete. 
At  the  same  time,  a  large  boat  coming  up  from  George-town, 
well  stored  with  necessaries  for  Major  M' Arthur's  force, 
was  seized  for  the  use  of  the  American  army.  Colonel  Mills 
succeeded  in  getting  away,  and  made  his  escape  to  George- 
town.J      The  other  new-made  British  oflftcers  of  the  militia 


Lee's  "Memoirs  of  the  Southern  Campaign,"  vol  i.  p.  162. 

t  Now  Irby's  Mills,  three  miles  from  Cheraw. 

X  Eamsay's  "  Revolution  in  S.  C,"  vol.  ii.  p.  140. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  317 

were  taken  prisoners  by  the  party  under  Major  Thomas, 
and  with  some  of  their  men  and  the  sick,  more  than  a 
hundred  in  number,  carried  prisoners  into  North  Carolina. 
The  British  Commander,  and  Tarleton  also,  as  will  be  seen, 
spoke  of  it  afterwards  as  a  mutiny,  making  no  allusion  to 
the  well-planned  surprise  by  the  Whigs,  but  for  which  the 
expedition  might  have  reached  George-town  in  safety.  The 
negroes,  of  course,  were  recaptured  and  returned  to 
their  owners.  This  effective  blow  struck  increased  terror 
into  the  enemy,  already  alarmed,  and  encouraged  the  in- 
habitants to  more  determined  and  unyielding  resistance.  It 
was  the  first  brilliant  exploit  yet  achieved  upon  the-  Pcdee, 
and  occurred  just  at  a  time  when  the  most  important  moral 
effects  were  likely  to  follow  in  its  train. 

Lord  Cornwallis,  deeply  chagrined,  very  naturally  at- 
tempted to  give  the  most  favorable  version  of  the  affair. 
In  a  letter  to  Sir  H.  Clinton,  from  Charles-town,  August 
6th,  he  thus  wrote  : — "  The  general  state  of  things  in  the 
two  Provinces  of  North  and  South  Carolina,  is  not  very 
materially  altered  since  my  letters  of  the  14th  and  15th  of 
last  month  were  written.^-"  AUuding  to  matters  in  other- 
parts  of  the  State,  he  proceeds  :  "  In  the  eastern  parts  of 
the  Province,  Major  M 'Arthur,  seeing  the  great  importance 
of  the  post  at  Chcraw  Hill,  and  finding  himself  perfectly 
secure  from  any  attack  of  the  enemy,  desired  to  continue 
there  longer  than  it  was  intended  he  should,  when  I  had 
the  honor  of  writing  to  you  on  the  15th.  At  last,  however, 
the  71st  Regt.  grew  so  exceedingly  sickly,  that  he  found  it 
absolutely  necessary  to  move,  and  marched  on  the  24th  to 
the  east  branch  of  Lincoln^s  (Lynche's)  Creek.  Gates,  who 
had  taken  the  command  of  De  Kalb^s  Corps,  was  still  on  Deep 
River ;  and  Rutherford  no  farther  advanced  than  Rocky 
River,  Pedee.  Knowing  of  no  enemy  within  many  miles,  he 
ventured  to  send  about  100  sick  in  boats  down  the  Pedee 
to  George-town.  Col.  Mills,  who  commanded  the  Militia 
of  the  Cheraw  District,  though  a  very  good  man,  had  not 
complied  with  my  instructions  in  forming  his  corps  ;  but 
had  placed  more  faith  in  oaths  and  professions,  and  attached 
less  to  the  former  conduct  of  those  he  admitted.  The  in- 
stant the  militia  found  that  M'Arthur  had  left  his  post,  and 


318  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

were  assured  that  Gates  would  come  the  next  day,  they 
seized  their  own  officers  and  the  hundred  sick,  and  carried 
them  all  prisoners  into  North  Carolina.  Col.  Mills  with 
difi&culty  made  his  escape  to  George-town."*  In  his 
memoirs  of  the  time,  Tarleton  says  :  "  The  approach  of 
Gen.  Gates  with  an  army  of  six  thousand  men,  induced 
Lord  Rawdon  gradually  to  contract  the  posts  upon  the 
frontier,  in  order  to  assemble  his  forces.  Major  M*^ Arthur 
was  directed  to  draw  nearer  to  Camden ;  the  two  battalions 
of  the  71st  Regiment,  under  his  orders,  were  at  this  period 
considerable  sufferers  by  the  unhealthy  climate  of  Carolina. 
To  disencumber  himself  for  movement,  he  collected  some 
boats  on  the  river  Pedee,  and  committed  upwards  of  one 
hundred  sick  men  to  the  care  of  Col.  Mills,  to  be  escorted 
to  George-town  by  the  militia  under  his  command.  After 
the  sick  were  embarked.  Major  M'Arthur  commenced  his 
march.  In  less  than  ten  days  the  militia  mutinied,  and 
securing  their  own  officers  and  the  sick,  conducted  them 
prisoners  to  Gen.  Gates,  in  North  Carolina.  This  instance 
of  treachery  in  the  east  of  the  Province  followed  the  per- 
fidious conduct  of  Lieut.-Col.  Lisle,  on  the  western  border, 
and  strongly  proved  the  mistake  committed  by  the  British, 
in  placing  confidence  in  the  inhabitants  of  the  country  where 
acting  apart  from  the  army.  The  only  probable  w&j  to 
reap  advantage  from  the  levies  made  in  Carolina,  would 
have  been  to  incorporate  the  young  men,  as  they  were  raised, 
in  the  established  provincial  corps,  where  they  could  be 
properly  trained,  and  formed  under  officers  of  experience. 
By  such  a  line  of  conduct,  all  the  British  regulars  would 
have  been  saved,  the  king's  troops  in  general  would  have 
been  augmented,  and  considerable  service  might  have  been 
derived  from  their  additional  numbers. "f  It  is  not  sur- 
prising that  such  free  comments  on  the  British  movements 
in  Carolina,  which  Tarleton  could  very  well  make  by  the 
light  of  experience  after  the  war  was  over,  drew  down  the 
severest  strictures  upon  his  work.  Such  was  the  result  of 
the  freedom,  altogether  proper  on  the  part  of  a  historian, 
ia  which  he  indulged.      It  was  manifestly  a  most  hazardous 


•  Tarleton,"  pp.  137,  138.  f  Ibid.,  pp.  97,  98. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  319 

step  to  have  entrusted  the  fate  of  such  an  expedition  to  the 
militia  of  the  eountry,  most  of  whom  were  burning  with 
loug-sraothered  feelings  of  revenge.  It  taught  the  enemy 
a  lesson,  however,  which  was  not  afterwards  forgotten.  In 
his  letter  of  August  6th,  already  quoted,  Lord  Cornwallis 
went  on  further  to  say :  "  The  wheat  harvest  in  North 
Carolina  is  now  over,  but  the  weather  still  is  excessively 
hot ;  and,  notwithstanding  our  utmost  exertions,  a  great  part 
of  the  rum,  salt,  clothing,  and  necessaries  for  the  soldiers, 
and  ammunition  for  the  troops,  are  not  very  far  advanced 
on  their  way  to  Camden.  However,  if  no  material  inter- 
ruption happens,  this  business  will  be  nearly  accomjilished 
in  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks. 

"  Our  assurances  of  attachment  from  our  distressed  friends 
in  North  Carolina,  are  as  strong  as  ever.  And  the  patience 
and  fortitude  with  which  these  unhappy  people  bear  the 
most  oppressive  and  cruel  tyranny  that  ever  was  exercised 
over  any  country,  deserve  our  greatest  admiration."^ 
The  reader  of  these  latter  days,  will  form  his  own  opinion 
upon  the  remarks  of  his  lordship  in  the  closing  paragraph 
above.  That  the  Loyalists  and  Tories  of  North  Carolina  at 
this  time  suffered  much,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  and  that 
they  deserved  to  suffer,  is  quite  as  certain.  But,  that  they 
groaned  under  the  most  oppressive  and  cruel  tyranny  ever 
exercised  over  any  country,  few  now  will  be  prepared  to 
admit.      But,  thus  the  mortified  Commander  wrote. 

The  allusion  made  both  by  Cornwallis  and  Tarleton  to 
the  sickness  from  which  the  British  suffered  while  at  Cheraw 
was  sadly  true.  Tradition  tells  how  the  soldiers,  unaccus- 
tomed to  a  southern  climate,  sickened  and  died.  And  the 
spot  is  now  pointed  out,  quite  a  perceptible  sink  in  the 
earth,  in  front  of  the  parish  church  of  St.  David,  where  many, 
placed,  it  is  said,  in  one  common  grave,  lie  buried. 

The  number  of  sick  sent  off  on  the  breaking  up  of  the 
post  indicates  a  season  of  unusual  fatality.  The  return  of 
the  71st  regiment  also  on  the  15th  of  August,  the  eve  of 
the  battle  of  Cam  len,  about  three  weeks  after  it  left  Cheraw, 
told  how  their  ranks  had  been  thinned  by  death.      Of  the 


Tarleton,"  p.  128. 


320  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

1st  battalion,  the  return  was,  2  captains,  4  lieutenants,  1 
ensign,  1  adjutant,  1  quarter-master,  1  mate,  14  sergeants, 
6  drummers,  114  rank  and  file.  Of  the  2ud  battalion, 
1  captain,  3  lieutenants,  3  ensigns,  9  sergeants,  94  rank  aud 
file.* 

Leaving  Cheraw,  the  tide  of  war  turned  rapidly  towards 
Camden.  The  accounts  given  by  the  British  commander  at  the 
time,  and  subsequently  by  Tarleton,  of  that  conflict,  of  such 
tragic  consequence  for  a  season  to  the  American  cause,  are 
of  exceeding  interest,  and  form  a  thrilling  chapter  in  the 
history  of  the  war  in  Carolina. 

After  the  loss  sustained  by  the  ravages  of  M'Arthur^s 
plundering  party  in  the  neighbourhood  of  her  husband's 
residence,  Mrs.  Harrington  took  refuge  with  her  friends  in 
South  Carolina.  General  Harrington  was  then  in  camp  at 
Cross  Creek,  and  wishing  to  have  her  there,  an  escort  was 
sent  to  conduct  her  thither,  as  the  following  record  shows  : — 

"  State  of  North  Carolina, 

''  The  Honorable  Richard  Caswell,  Esquire,  Major- 
General  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  militia  of  the  said 
State,  in  service, 

"  To  the  Commanding  Officers  of  his  Britannic  Majesty's 
Forces,  in  South  Carolina,  and  all  others  whom  it  may 
concern. 

"  These  are  to  certify,  that  Col.  John  Donaldson  and 
Lieut.  Reuben  Wilkinson  are  permitted  to  proceed  with  a 
flag  of  truce  to  South  Carolina,  in  order  to  conduct  the  lady 
of  Henry  Wm.  Harrington,  Esqiaire,  and  her  family  to  the 
interior  parts  of  this  State.  All  officers,  civil  and  military, 
in  this  State,  and  others  concerned,  are  requested  to  take 
notice  thereof,  and  govern  themselves  accordingly, 

"  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  in  the  camp  at  the  Cross 
Roads,  near  Deep  River,  the  21st  day  of  July,  1780. 

"  R.  Caswell. 

"  By  his  Honor's  command, 

"  John  Sitgreaves,  A.D.  Camp.-" 


Tarleton,"  pp..  137,  138. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  3^1 

Upon  Ins  arrival  Col.  Donaldson  probably  found  the 
enemy  breaking  iip^  or  already  gone.  His  mission  Avas  suc- 
cessfully  aceomplislicd.* 

During  the  struggle  on  the  Pedee  Gen.  Harrington  sent 
a  detachment  of  Whigs  to  Anson  County  in  charge  of  a  negro. 
He  Avas  the  property  of  Michael  Crawford,  of  Anson,  had 
been  in  the  service  of  Col.  Donaldson,  and  was  exchanged 
for  one  of  the  general's  servants.  Shortly  before  they 
reached  the  river  the  Whigs  were  surprised  by  a  party  of 
Tories,  avIio  lay  in  ambush ;  and  upon  the  first  fire  were 
dispersed.  The  negro  was  taken  off  by  the  Tories  and  lost. 
The  Whigs  soon  rallied,  and  returned  boldly  to  the  conflict. 

The  Tories,  satisfied  with  their  booty,  retreated  after  a 
brief  skirmish.  They  were  pursued,  and  a  riderless  horse, 
with  a  bloody  saddle,  was  captured.  Of  the  Whigs,  one 
named  Curtis  was  killed,  and  Daniel  Hicks  wounded  in  the 
thigh,  from  Avhich,  however,  he  afterwards  recovered.  After 
the  Avar  Crawford  brought  a  suit  against  Gen.  Harrington 
for  the  negro,  but  recovered  nothing. 

The  scattered  Wliigs  kept  up  an  occasional  correspondence. 
On  the  2Gth  of  July,  John  Lewis  Gervais,  then  at  Williams- 
bui'g,  Virginia,  Avrote  to  his  friend.  Gen.  Harrington,  as 
follows  : — 

'^  Dear  Sir, — After  a  fatiguing  journey  I  have  at  last 
joined  my  family  here,  who  have  undergone  great  hardships 
and  difficulties.  John  and  Sinclair  have  both  been  sick, 
but  are  better.  I  have  not  heard  from  your  quarter  since 
I  left  it,  and  am  anxious  to  know  the  fate  of  our  friends 
at  Pedee.  Mrs.  Gervais  wishes  to  hear  if  the  articles  she 
sent  up  in  the  boat  are  safe,  and  begs  you  to  have  them 
secured  in  some  safe  place  till  we  I'eturn.  Gov.  Rutledge 
I  found  gone  to  Philadelphia,  and  I  ha\'e   not  heard  from 


*  Colonel  Doiiaklsou  was  accompanied  on  this  occasion  by  Toney,  the  body 
servant  of  General  Harrington  tliroughout  the  war,  a  negro  of  remarkable 
character,  honest  and  faithful  in  the  highest  degree.  He  was  the  father  of 
Cuffee,  of  whom  mention  has  been  made.  General  Harrington  purchased  him 
from  John  Mitchell,  about  1776.  After  the  Revolution,  he  was  sent  by  his 
master  on  horseback  from  Pedee  to  Newbern,  N.  C,  with  1500  Spanish  silver 
dollars,  to  pay  for  a  tract  of  land  which  General  H.  had  bought.  The  money 
was  delivered  in  safety.  The  British  had  no  conception  of  such  devotion  in  a 
slave. 


322  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

him  since.  I  should  be  glad  to  hear  from  you,  and  the 
situation  of  our  affairs  to  the  southward,  if  we  have  any 
prospect  to  return  soon  to  Carolina,  &c.  Mrs.  Gervais  joins 
me  in  best  regards  to  you  and  Mrs.  Harrington  ;  and  we 
most  sincerely  wish  to  assure  you  by  word  of  mouth  of  the 
perfect  esteem  with  which  we  are 

Your  most  obliged  and  most  obedient  Servants, 

"  John  Lewis  Gervais. 

"  Please  to  direct  any  letters  to  the  care  of  Col.  Griffin,  at 
Williamsburg,^^ 

On  the  27th  of  July  Gen.  Gates  arrived  at  the  Pedee 
from  the  northward,  and  on  the  4th  of  August  issued  a  pro- 
clamation, inviting  the  patriotic  citizens  of  Carolina  to 
assemble  under  his  auspices  and  vindicate  the  rights  of 
America  ;  holding  out  an  amnesty  to  all  who  had  subscribed 
paroles  imposed  upon  them  by  the  ruffian  hand  of  conquest ; 
and  excepting  only  those  who,  in  the  hour  of  trial^  had. 
exercised  acts  of  barbarity  and  devastation  upon  the  persons 
and  property  of  their  fellow-citizens.  To  this  appeal  there 
was  a  general  and  hearty  response.  New  life  was  infused 
into  the  lately  desponding  patriots,  and  many  came  forward 
without  delay  to  join  the  advancing  army.  On  the  28th  of 
July,  Major  Spence  Macay,  aide-de-camp  of  Gen.  Rutherford, 
addressed  Gen,  Harrington  as  follows  : — 

"  Camp  at  Clarke's,  July  28,  1780. 

"  Dear  General, — Last  night  Gen,  Rutherford  received 
a  letter  from  Gen.  Caswell,  informing  him  that  Gen.  Gates 
desired  Gen.  Caswell,  Gen.  Rutherford  and  yourself  to  meet 
27th  instant,  at  Cox^s  Mills,  in  order  to  settle  a  plan  of 
future  operations  to  the  southward.  The  general  says  '  that 
he  is  happy  to  acquaint  Gen.  Caswell  that  the  Virginia 
Militia,  with  such  continental  corps  of  cavalry  and  infantry 
as  Congress  have  allotted  to  serve  with  the  Southern  Army, 
are  in  full  march,  and  will  speedily  join  it ;  and  has  also 
the  satisfaction  to  think  that  the  measures  taken  by  the 
Executive  Council  of  Virginia  in  conjunction  with  that  of 
this   State,  will    shortly  relieve  our  distresses,   and  put  it 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  •  323 

amply  in  oiir  po-ncr  to  pusli  tlic  enemy  from  their  advanced 
posts  even  to  Charles-town. 

"  Governor  Nash  has  written  to  Gen.  Rutherford,  re- 
quiring the  attendance  of  all  the  members  of  General 
Assembly  at  Hillsbrough,  on  the  20th  of  August  next,  and 
especially  those  who  are  in  the  army.  The  Governor's  letter 
is  big  with  caution,  the  enemy  numerous,  and  much  danger 
is  to  be  apprehended  from  them. 

"  I  am,  dear  General, 
"  Your  most  obedient  and  humble  Servant, 

"  Spence   Macay. 
"  To  Brig.-Gen.  Harrington, 
"  Richmond  County."' 

Gen.  Gates,  confident  of  ^dctory,  lost  no  time  in  advan- 
cing toward  the  enemy  near  Camden.  Lord  Cornwallis's 
account  of  preliminary  movements  and  the  fortunes  of  that 
ill-fated  day  for  the  American  cause,  forms  an  interesting 
link  in  the  chain  of  events  at  this  period.  On  the  21st  of 
August  he  wrote  from  Camden  to  Lord  George  Germain  : — 

"  It  is  yn\h  great  pleasure  that  I  communicate  to  your 
Lordship  an  account  of  a  complete  victory,  obtained  on  the 
16th  instant,  by  his  Majesty's  troops  under  my  command, 
over  the  rebel  Southern  Army,  commanded  by  Gen.  Gates.  . 
.  .  On  the  9th  instant,  two  expresses  arrived  with  an  account 
that  Gen.  Gates  was  advancing  towards  Lynche's  Creek, 
with  his  whole  army,  supposed  to  amount  to  six  thousand 
men,  exclusive  of  a  detachment  of  one  thousand  men  under 
Gen.  Sumpter ;  who,  after  having  in  vain  attempted  to  force 
the  posts  at  Rocky  ]Mount  and  Hanging  Rock,  was  believed 
to  be  at  that  time  trying  to  get  round  the  left  of  our  posi- 
tion, to  cut  off  our  communication  with  the  Congarees  and 
Charles-town  ;  that  the  disaffected  country  between  the  Pedee 
and  Black  Rivers  had  actually  revolted ;  and  that  Lord  Raw- 
don  was  contracting  his  posts,  and  preparing  to  assemble 
his  forces  at  Camden.  In  consequence  of  this  information, 
after  finishing  some  important  points  of  business  at  Charles- 
town,  I  set  out  on  the  evening  of  the  10th,  and  arrived  at 
Camden  on  the  night  between  the  13th  and  14th,  and  there 

Y  2 


324  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

found  Lord  Rawdon  with  all  our  force,  except  Lieut. -Col. 
TurubulFs  small  detachment,  which  fell  back  from  Rocky 
Mount  to  Major  Ferguson^s  posts  of  the  militia  of  Ninety- 
six,  on  Little  River.  .  .  .  After  consulting  with  some  in- 
telligent people,  well  acquainted  with  the  ground,  I  deter- 
mined to  march  at  10  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  15th,  and 
to  attack  at  daybreak,  pointing  my  principal  force  against 
their  Continentals,  who,  from  good  intelligence,  I  knew  to 
be  badly  posted  close  to  Col.  Rugeley's  house.  Late  in  the 
evening,  I  received  information  that  the  Virginians  had 
joined  that  day ;  however,  that  having  been  expected,  I  did 
not  alter  my  plan,  but  marched  at  the  hour  appointed, 
leaving  the  defence  of  Camden  to  some  provincials,  militia 
and  convalescents,  and  a  detachment  of  the  63rd  regiment, 
which,  by  being  mounted  on  horses  they  had  pressed  on  the 
road,  it  was  hoped  would  arrive  in  the  course  of  the  night. 
I  had  proceeded  nine  miles,  when,  about  half  an  hour  past 
two  in  the  morning,  my  advanced  guard  fell  in  with  the 
enemy.  By  the  weight  of  the  fire,  I  was  convinced  they 
were  in  considerable  force,  and  was  soon  assured  by  some 
deserters  and  prisoners  that  it  was  the  whole  rebel  army  on 
its  march  to  attack  us  at  Camden.  I  immediately  halted 
and  formed,  and  the  enemy  doing  the  same,  the  firing  soon 
ceased. ■*'* 

Tarleton  says,  "  On  the  15th,  the  principal  part  of  the 
King's  troops  had  orders  to  be  in  readiness  to  march ;  in 
the  afternoon  Earl  Cornwallis  desired  Lieut.- Col.  Tarleton 
to  gain  circumstantial  intelligence  by  intercepting  a  patrol, 
or  carrying  ofl"  some  prisoners  from  an  American  picket. 
About  ten  miles  from  Camden,  on  the  road  to  Rugeley's 
Mills,  the  advanced  guard  of  the  Legion  in  the  evening 
secured  three  American  soldiers.  The  prisoners  reported 
that  they  came  from  Lynche's  Creek,  where  they  had  been 
left  in  a  convalescent  state,  and  that  they  were  directed  to 
join  the  American  army,  on  the  high  road,  that  night,  as 
Gen.  Gates  had  given  orders  for  his  troops  to  move  from 
Rugeley's  Mills  to  attack  the  British  camp  next  morning 
near  Camden.      The   information   received  from   these  men 


Tarleton."  pp.  128-131. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  325 

induced  Tarletou  to  counteruiarcli  before  lie  was  discovered 
by  any  patrol  from  the  eucmy^s  outpost. 

"  Tli(i  three  prisoners  were  mounted  behind  dragoons, 
and  conveyed  with  speed  to  the  British  army.  When  ex- 
amined by  Earl  Cornwallis,  their  story  appeared  credible, 
and  confirmed  all  the  other  intelligence  of  the  day.  Orders 
were  immediately  circulated  for  the  regiments  and  corps 
designed  for  a  forward  move,  to  stand  to  their  arms. 

"  The  town,  the  magazine,  the  hospital,  and  the  prisoners 
were  committed  to  the  care  of  ]Major  M'Arthur,  with  a  small 
body  of  provincials  and  militia,  and  the  weakest  convales- 
cents of  the  army.  .  .  At  10  o'clock  the  King's  troops  moved 
from  their  ground,  and  formed  their  order  of  march  on  the 
main  road  to  Rugeley's  Mills.  Lieut. -Col.  Webster  com- 
manded the  first  division  of  the  army.  .  .  At  12  o'clock,  the 
line  of  march  was  somewhat  broken  in  passing  Saunders's 
Creek,  five  miles  from  Camden.  A  short  halt  remedied  this 
inconvenience,  and  the  royal  army  proceeded  in  a  compact 
state  with  most  profound  silence.  A  little  after  two,  the 
advanced  guard  of  the  British  charged  the  head  of  the  Ame- 
rican column ;  skirmishing  followed ;  but,  except  a  few 
occasional  shots  from  the  sentries  of  each  army,  a  silent 
expectation  ushered  in  the  morning.  At  dawn,  the  two 
commanders  proceeded  to  make  their  respective  arrange- 
ments for  action."^ 

Before  the  close  of  that  eventful  day,  the  American  army 
was  routed,  the  unhappy  Gates  escaped  by  a  hasty  flight 
into  Xortli  Carolina,  and  general  consternation  again  seized 
the  minds  of  the  inhabitants. 

Many  of  the  most  devoted  Whigs  removed  their  families 
with  haste  to  North  Carolina  and  Virginia,  returning  them- 
selves to  the  conflict.  The  Tories  were  more  emboldened 
than  ever,  and  from  this  time  on  was  waged  a  sanguinary 
and  desperate  warfare  on  the  Pedee.  From  Drowning 
Creek  and  the  Little  Pedee,  from  certain  neighbourhoods 
on  Lynche's  Creek  and  the  parts  lower  down,  marauding 
bands  were  ever  and  anon  pouring  in  on  the  river  settle- 
ments,  which    were   true   almost    to   a   man.      A  spii'it  of 


Tarletou,"  pp.  103-105. 


326  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

unsparing  revenge  took  possession  of  the  Whigs^  and  many 
a  plain  from  the  line  of  North  Carolina  above  to  the  upper 
limits  of  Marion^s  field  of  action  below,  were  to  be  watered 
with  blood. 

In  the  brief  entries  made  in  his  Journal,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Pugh  doubtless  gave  expression  to  feelings  which  very  gene- 
rally prevailed  : — 

"  Friday,  18th  August.  Got  the  news  of  Gates's  defeat ; 
moved  to  Lide's  quarter. 

"  Saturday,  19th.  About  in  great  trouble. 

"  Sunday,  20th.  Over  the  river,  moved  home  my  goods. 

''  Tuesday,  22nd.  Bad  news. 

"  Sunday,  Sept.  3rd.  Went  to  KolVs ;  men  met  there 
upon  a  scout  after  Tories. 

"  Saturday,  16th.  Had  news  of  the  British  at  Black 
Creek. 

"Sunday,  17th.  At  home;  melancholy  day.  Am  plun- 
dered severely;   but,  blessed  be  God,  am  spared  yet. 

"Tuesday,  19th.  At  home;  all  day  full  of  trouble. 

"Thursday,  21st.  At  home;  went  to  Lide's  in  great 
trouble. 

"Monday,  25th.  Went  to  Mr.  KimbrougVs;  sorrowful. 

"  Wednesday,  27th.  At  home ;  British  left  the  Long 
Bluff. 

"  Thursday,  28th.  At  home,  after  my  cattle. 

"Tuesday,  10th  Oct.  Whigs  flying,  or  retreating  from 
here.'^ 

The  approach  of  Gates  to  Pedee,  as  already  remarked, 
was  hailed  with  delight  by  every  ardent  patriot.  George 
M^Call  and  four  youthful  companions,  upon  hearing  that 
Gates  had  crossed  the  Yadkin,  started  up  the  river  to  join 
the  army  and  take  part  in  the  expected  conflict  at  Camden. 
They  had  proceeded  but  a  short  distance,  when  intelli- 
gence reached  them  that  Col.  Giles  was  raising  a  volunteer 
force  below  to  swell  the  columns  of  the  American  com- 
mander. Hastening  back,  they  found  the  colonel  with  his 
party  at  Giles's  Bluff,  some  distance  below  on  the  Pedee. 
They  remained  in  that  locality  two  weeks  or  more,  and  were 
joined  during  the  time  by  Colonel  Marion  Avith  an  addi- 
tional force.      Having  collected  a  few  old  field-pieces^  Marion 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  327 

crossed  the  river  and  commenced  a  redoubt.  While  en- 
gaged upon  this  work,  where  a  temporary  stand  was  in- 
tended to  be  made,  the  news  reached  them  of  Gates's  defeat. 
As  a  consequence,  the  phm  of  operations  previously  agreed 
upon  was  broken  up;  and  the  brilliant  career  in  which  he 
was  to  become  so  distinguished  as  a  partisan  leader,  already 
successfully  commenced,  now  opened  in  larger  outline  and 
bloodier  prospect  upon  jNIarion.  With  the  force  hastily  col- 
lected and  now  under  his  command,  a  few  sallies  were  made 
against  the  Tories  in  Williamsburg  and  the  region  east  of 
the  Pedee.  Col.  Giles  received  orders  to  march  with  such 
a  volunteer  force  as  would  accompany  him,  to  Long  Bluft', 
there  to  join  Col.  Kolb,  for  a  retreat  into  North  Carolina, 
or  any  other  movement  which  the  course  of  events  might 
determine.  The  result  was,  that  Col.  Kolb  remained  in  the 
neighbom-liood  of  Long  Bluff,  for  the  protection  of  the  lives 
and  property  of  the  inhabitants  there  against  the  Tories. 
Young  M'Call,  who  met  Col.  Marion  for  the  first  time  on 
the  occasion  alluded  to,  was  so  deeply  impressed  with  his 
superior  military  sagacity,  that  he  determined  to  join  his 
command,  and  share  the  fortunes  of  the  future  with  him  to 
the  close  of  the  war.  Col.  Hicks  had  gone  with  his  family 
to  Virginia,  leaving  the  active  command  of  the  forces  on  the 
Pedee  to  Lieut.-Col.  Kolb,  a  position  which  the  latter  ap- 
pears to  have  retained  until  his  death,  in  the  early  part  of 
the  folloAving  spring. 

The  depredations  by  the  Tories  wei'e  secretly  committed, 
except  in  those  cases  where  they  had  the  advantage  of  over- 
powering numbers,  or  the  Whigs  were  absent  from  their 
homes. 

Samuel  Bacot  was  one  of  many  sufferers,  though  some- 
times eluding  the  enemy,  or  sharing  with  others  the  benefit 
of  their  cowardly  fears.  On  one  occasion,  a  party  of  Tories 
were  seen  approaching  his  house.  He  seized  a  well-charged 
musket,  and,  giving  a  few  hasty  directions,  was  in  the  act  of 
escaping,  when  the  distress  of  a  favorite  child  detained 
him  for  a  moment,  and  until  the  enemy  were  dismounting ; 
a  little  more,  and  it  would  have  been  too  late.  He  succeeded 
however,  in  reaching  a  thick  covert  in  the  rear  of  the  dwel- 
ling in  safety.     His  directions  were  observed  by  the  family. 


328  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

and  as  tlie  Tories  entered  and  were  about  to  make  search^, 
the  lond  report  of  a  musket  was  lieard^  and  the  clatter  of 
shot  against  the  walls  and  door  facings  as  they  came  through 
the  open  passage  from  the  rear^  confirmed  the  impression  of 
a  murderous  surprise.  A  panic  followed,  and  the  cowardly- 
wretches  ran  for  their  lives,  leaving  even  their  horses 
behind  them,  to  the  amusement  and  relief  of  the  family. 

On  another  occasion,  Mr.  Bacot  was  taken  prisoner  and 
carried  to  Camden,  where  he  suffered  much  from  a  cruel 
confinement.  About  thirty  others  were  at  the  same  time 
imprisoned,  and  it  was  determined  to  send  them  all  to 
Charles-town,  for  safe  keeping,  in  charge  of  a  detachment 
double  their  own  number.  His  companions  were  known  to 
Mr.  Bacot,  and  a  few  of  them  as  determined  spirits  on 
whom  he  could  rely  in  effecting  an  escape  by  the  way. 

To  these  his  plans  were  communicated  soon  after  the 
march  commenced.  They  were  to  take  advantage  of  any 
favorable  circumstance  which  might  occur,  for  effecting 
their  liberation.  A  long  and  wearisome  day  passed  away, 
the  party  halting  in  the  evening  near  a  deserted  log  house 
by  the  road  side,  which  was  to  be  occupied  during  the  night. 
The  arms  were  stacked  in  front,  near  the  steps.  There  were 
two  apartments,  separated  by  a  thin  partition.  In  the  one 
which  opened  on  the  piazza,  the  guard  took  lodging,  placing 
the  prisoners  in  the  other,  with  which  they  communicated 
by  a  door.  From  the  latter  room,  a  window  opened  upon 
the  road. 

The  weary  captives  had  now  a  better  opportunity  for 
consulting  together,  and  it  was  soon  determined  to  carry 
their  plans  into  execution.  "Saturday  night ^^  was  agreed 
upon  as  the  watchword  and  signal  for  action.  To  take  pos- 
session of  the  guns,  when  the  main  body  were  asleep,  was  a 
matter  of  the  first  importance.  About  midnight,  INIr.  Bacot 
tapped  at  the  door,  and  upon  its  being  opened,  begged  the 
captain  for  a  drink  of  brandy,  a  ready  excuse  being  given 
for  the  request  at  so  unseasonable  an  hour.  He  perceived 
at  a  glance  that  the  moment  for  action  had  come ;  and 
taking  the  glass  which  was  handed  him,  said,  as  he  raised  it, 
with  emphasis  on  the  last  words,  "  Here  is  success  to 
Saturday  night,"  and  dashed  the  liquor  in  the  officer^s  face. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   OLD   CHERAWS.  329 

As  the  words  were  uttered,  his  eager  and  impatient  eom- 
rades  rushed  out,  and  seizing  the  arms,  were  opposed  by  the 
nearest  sentinel,  Avho  was  speedily  overpowered.  The  rest 
of  the  prisoners,  not  understanding  the  cause  of  the  confu- 
sion, and  thinking  it  a  suitable  time  for  escape,  began  to  leap 
out  of  the  window.  The  whole  guard  being  roused,  their 
surrender  was  peremptorily  demanded,  and  so  sudden  and 
complete  was  the  surprise,  that  they  yielded  at  once.  They 
were  then  paroled  and  dismissed ;  and  the  captives,  once 
more  at  liberty,  lost  no  time  in  finding  their  way  home- 
ward.* 

Elias  DuBose,  on  Lynchers  Creek,  had  many  adventures 
with  the  Tories.  On  one  occasion,  before  the  removal  of 
his  family  to  Virginia,  he  had  returned  from  the  camp  on 
furlough.  The  Tories,  being  apprised  of  his  movements, 
approached  his  house  in  the  dead  of  night,  and  demanded 
admittance.  Well  knowing  their  designs,  Mr.  DuBose  pre- 
sented himself,  gun  in  hand,  with  a  heroic  wife  by  his  side, 
also  armed,  and  refused  them  admittance,  threatening  to 
shoot  the  first  man  who  made  the  attempt  to  enter,  and 
adding  that  he  would  sell  his  life  as  dearly  as  possible.  They 
then  threatened  to  burn  them,  and  made  preparation  to 
carry  the  threat  into  execution.  In  this  desperate  emer- 
gency, no  alternative  was  left  but  a  compromise ;  the 
dauntless  Whig  proposing  to  surrender,  on  condition  that 
they  would  not  tie  or  confine  him,  but  that  he  should  be 
carried  to  old  Mr.  Wilson,  a  neighbouring  magistrate  and 
friend  of  the  King,  who  resided  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
creek,  and  by  whose  sentence  he  consented  to  abide. 

Supper  was  then  provided  for  them.  Upon  arriving  at 
Mr.  Wilson^s,  and  submitting  the  case  to  him,  he  said  such 
a  neighbour  should  not  be  injured,  and  told  his  friend  Du 
Bose  to  go  at  large  ;  upon  which  he  returned  to  his  family 
the  same  night. 

The  warfare  with  the  Tories  extended  up  into  the  neigh- 
bouring counties  of  North  Carolina. 

Some  time  after  Gates's  defeat,  Mrs.  Harrington  had  an 
adventure   with    a  band  of  marauders,  some  of  the  conse- 


*  In  an  account  of  this  incident  given  in  Johnson's  "  Traditions  of  the  Re- 
solution," the  name  of  Peter  incorrectly  appears,  instead  of  Samuel  Bacot. 


330  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

quences  of  which  she  had  reason  to  deplore  to  the  end  of 
her  life.  The  general,  then  absent  on  duty,  had  sent  an 
urgent  message  to  her  to  take  the  negroes  and  such  other 
moveable  property  as  could  be  transported,  and  start  imme- 
diately for  Maryland.  She  did  so  with  all  possible  expedi- 
tion ;  and  bidding  adieu  to  home,  had  i)roceeded  as  far  as 
Mountain  Creek,  in  Richmond  County,  when  she  was  met 
by  Captain  John  Leggett,  a  noted  Tory,  of  Bladen  County, 
near  the  line  of  Robeson,  with  his  party.  They  at  once 
began  their  work  of  plunder,  destroying  such  of  the  pro- 
perty as  they  could  not  take  with  them.  Some  of  the  negroes 
made  their  escape,  and  remained  under  cover  until  all 
danger  was  past. 

The  books,  and  a  valuable  library  which  General  Harring- 
ton was  particularly  anxious  to  preserve,  were  scattered 
along  the  road,  and  not  a  few,  with  many  valuable  papers, 
were  lost  or  destroyed.  The  horses  were  all  taken.  Fearing  a 
pursuit,  the  Tories  soon  took  to  flight.  One  of  them,  named 
M'Koy,  received  a  young  negro  man  as  his  share  of  the 
spoils,  and  fled  by  way  of  the  Grassy  Islands.  In  crossing 
the  river  at  that  point,  the  horse  stumbled,  throwing  the 
negro  off",  who  was  drowned.  After  the  war,  judgment  was 
obtained  against  this  man,  but  nothing  recovered.  Mys. 
Harrington  made  her  Avay  back  as  well  as  she  could  to  her 
father.  Major  James  Auld,  in  Anson  County.  Her  brothers, 
John  and  Michael  Auld,  started  with  a  company  in  pursuit 
of  the  Tories,  but  did  not  overtake  them  or  succeed  in 
getting  any  of  the  property  back."^  Some  time  before  the 
march  of  General  Gates  to  the  South,  General  Harrington 
had  his  head-quarters  at  Cross  Creek.  The  object  of  his 
position  there  was  to  keep  the  Tories  in  awe,  and  protect 
the  public  stores^  collected  and  sent  forward  from  time  to 
time.      On  the  advance  of  Gates  to  Camden,  he  summoned 

*  After  the  war.  General  Harrington  brought  suit  against  Leggett,  and 
obtained  judgment.  Leggett,  in  the  meantime,  had  transferred  his  lands  to 
another  to  prevent  their  being  taken.  Upon  its  becoming  known,  they  es- 
cheated to  the  State.  An  Act  was  afterwards  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  N. 
C.  giving  General  H.  title  to  these  lands.  Upon  going  to  Bladen,  he  found  two 
daughters  of  Leggett,  and  gave  them  deeds  for  their  homestead.  Leggett, 
with  others,  had  escaped  to  Nova  Scotia,  but  had  now  returned.  General  H. 
received  very  little  in  the  end — but  a  few  hundred  dollars  for  one  or  two  tracts 
of  land. 


HISTORY   OF    THE   OLD   CIIERAWS.  331 

General  Harrington  from  Cross  Creek  with  all  despatch  to 
his  assistance.  The  latter  immediately  took  up  the  line  of 
march ;  but,  upon  arriving  at  Haley's  Ferry,  on  the  Pedee, 
received  intelligence  of  the  disastrous  defeat  and  general 
dispersion  of  the  American  forces.  His  head-quarters  for  a 
time  were  in  this  neighbourhood. 

On  the  18th  of  August,  Colonel  Nicholas,  of  the  Virginia 
Militia,  vn'ote  to  General  Harrington  as  follows  : — 

"  Mark's  Ferry  *  Aug.  18th,  1780. 

"  Sir, — As  I  command  at  this  point,  I  took  the  liberty 
of  opening  your  letter  to  General  Stevens.  My  orders  from 
Colonel  Harrison  were  to  stay  and  command  this  pass,  in 
order  to  enable  the  stragglers  of  our  army  to  cross  the  river  ; 
and  I  doubt  not,  on  your  considering  the  necessity  of  rally- 
ing our  men,  who  generally  seem  to  pass  this  way,  and 
which  would  be  rendered  entirely  ineffectual  by  giving  up 
the  ferry  to  the  command  of  the  disaffected  people,  you  will 
render  me  all  the  assistance  you  can,  both  by  giving  me 
advice  and  falling  on  some  plan  for  the  safety  of  the  troops 
here  and  at  Cole's  Bridge,  the  former  consisting  of  about 
300  men  badly  armed.  Colonel  Harrison  directed  me  to 
march  on  for  Hillsborough  as  soon  as  I  supposed  the  men 
had  all  passed  that  were  likely  to  come  this  way. 

"  P.S.  I  just  saw  a  letter  from  General  Caswell  to  Colonel 
Seawell,  which  I  have  forwarded  to  him,  and  which  will  put 
it  out  of  his  power  to  act  with  me,  I  expect. 
"  Sir,  I  am,  with  respect, 

''  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  J.  Nicholas, 
"  Lieut.-Col.  V.  Militia. 

"  Brig.-General  Harrington,  on  Pedee.'' 

On  the  10th  of  September  Gen.  Gates,  now  on  his  re- 
treat through  North  Carolina,  wrote  to  Gen.  Harrington. 

"  Hillsborough,  11  in  the  forenoon,  10th  Septr.,  1780. 
"  Dear  Sir, — This  moment  I  received  your  letter,  dated 
the  6th  inst.,  8  p.m.,  from  Cross  Creek.      I  am  much  pleased 


*  Mark's  Ferry  was  fifty  miles  above  Cheraw. 


332  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

with  the  good  news  it  contains^  and  hope  it  will  prove  true ; 
in  the  mean  time  it  is  our  duty,  by  every  means,  to  know 
with  certainty  if  the  fleet  of  our  allies  is,  or  is  not,  upon 
this  coast.  I  desire  you  will  immediately  do  every  thing  in 
your  power  to  satisfy  me  in  that  particular.  Such  necessary 
and  unavoidable  expense  as  is  incurred  in  procuring  this 
inteUigence,  I  will  cheerfully  pay. 
^'  I  am,  dear  sir, 

"  Your  affectionate,  humble  Servant, 

"  HoiiATio  Gates. 
"  Brigadier- General  Harrington. 

"  P.S. — Continue  your  spies  toward  Camden  and  down 
Pedee." 

The  enemy  were  now  much  emboldened,  and  renewed 
their  plundering  expeditions,  as  they  had  done  after  the  fall 
of  Charles-town,  in  the  spring  and  early  part  of  the  summer. 
Again  Major  Wemys  made  his  presence  felt  in  the  country 
above  George-town.  The  South  Carolina  and  American 
General  Gazette  of  September  20th,  contained  an  extract  of 
a  letter  from  that  place  of  the  16th,  saying  :  "  Major  Wemys 
has  been  scouring  the  country  to  the  northward  of  this. 
Several  of  the  inhabitants  who,  after  giving  their  paroles, 
joined  Marion  and  Horry  in  their  late  incursion,  have  gone 
off  with  them.  Some  of  their  houses,  &c.,  have  been  des- 
troyed in  terrorem.  The  persons  of  others,  equally  culpable, 
are  secured,  as  they  have,  by  their  recent  base  conduct, 
shown  themselves  unworthy  of  being  allowed  to  go  at  large.^* 

Soon  after  this,  the  Board  of  War  of  North  Carolina  ad- 
dressed to  Gen.  Harrington  the  following  communication: — 

"Hillsborough,  Octr.  1st,  1780. 

"  Sir, — Gen.  Gates  will  give  you  directions  how  you  are 
to  conduct  yom-self  in  your  military  operations.  As  he 
understands  that  business  much  better  than  I  do,  you  will 
obey  his  orders.  There  are  a  number  of  militia  at  Col. 
Scamlock's,  in  Chatham,  left  by  Gen.  Sumner,  many  of 
them  unable  to  do  duty.  I  have  written  to  the  colonel  to 
send  all  that  appear  able  to  go  to  you,  to  Cross  Creek,  as 
they  may  act  as  a  guard — those  that  are  unwell,  to  be  dis- 
charged, as  they  are  only  an  incumbrance. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  333 

"  You  will  give  such  orders  relative  to  any  that  joiu  you 
as  you  think  proper. 

"  I  am,  your  obedieut  servant, 

"  J.  Venn." 

Gen.  Gates  also  wrote  on  the  same  day  :  "  As  the  enemy 
are  advancing  by  the  route  of  Salisbury,  I  recommend  it  to 
you,  to  collect  your  force  immediately  at  Cross  Creek,  and  be 
prepared  to  march  by  Chatham  Court  House  the  moment 
you  receive  orders." 

By  order  of  the  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  Col.  Thomas 
Brown,  of  that  State,  had  marched  to  Pedee,  and  soon  after 
his  arrival  wrote  to  General  Harrington,  informing  him  of 
his  movements. 

"  Camp  at  the  Beauty  Spot,  10th  Octr.,  1780. 

^'  Dear  Sir, — I  have,  agreeably  to  your  order,  marched  as 
far  as  this  place,  eight  miles  below  Hick^s  Mills;  but  meet- 
ing with  a  letter  here,  informing  me  of  your  retreat  back 
to  Cross  Creek,  I  conclude  to  proceed  no  farther ;  but  shall, 
as  directed  by  his  Excellency,  Gov.  Nash,  drive  off  all  the 
beef  cattle  that  I  nan  possibly  collect.  I  have  received  no 
orders  from  you  since  the  3rd  inst.,  which^  together  with 
your  unexpected  retreat,^  has  left  me  so  much  in  the  dark 
how  to  act,  as  to  determine  me  as  above.  The  inhabitants 
about  this  place  seem  perfectly  still,  except  about  ninety, 
who  are  said  to  be  collected  at  Spike's  Mill,  on  Jeffrey's 
Creek ;  but  we  learn  there  is  a  party  gone  out  this  day  in 
order  to  dislodge  them,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Delany. 
Captains  jMurphy  and  Council,  with  their  companies,  are 
ranging  up  and  down  this  river  in  order  to  keep  the  Tories 
in  awe.  I  hope  shortly  to  hear  from  you ;  and  am, 
"  Dear  sir,  with  much  respect, 

"  Your  most  obedient,  humble  Servant, 

"  Thos.  Brown. 

"  P.S. — Since  I  concluded  I  have  been  lucky  enough  to 
meet  with  the  person  who  furnishes  the  following  deposition. 
He  is  a  son-in-law  to  Capt.  Henry  Council,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  compelled  into  the  British  service,  and  has  re- 
turned home  in  consequence  of  Ford's  orders.      'Tis  confi- 


*  The  unexpected  retreat  here  lelerred  to,  was  from  Halej's  Ferry,  on  Pedee, 
to  Cross  Creek.  , 


334  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

dently  asserted  by  a  person  lately  from  Georgia^  that  six 
thousand  French  are  landed  there^  and  have  taken  Suns- 
bury.  We  further  learn  that  the  Tories  about  Little  Pedee 
are  summoned  to  meet  on  Thursday  nextj  by  one  Jesse 
Barfield.  I  shall  endeavor  to  watch  their  motions^  and  if 
possible,  disperse  them, 

"  I  am,  as  before,  yours,  &c., 

"  T.  B. 
"  To  Brig.-Gen.  Harrington, 

"  at  or  near  Cross  Creek/' 

It  appears  from  this  letter,  that  the  "Wliigs  on  Pedee  were 
now  rendering  effective  service  against  the  Tories.  This 
conflict  was  fiercely  waged,  and  only  to  close  with  the  ter- 
mination of  the  war. 

On  the  1 1th  of  October,  General  Gates  wrote  to  General 
Harrington  as  to  a  change  of  position. 

"  Hillsborough,  Octr.  11,  1780. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Last  night  I  received  your  letter  from 
Cross  Creek,  dated  the  6th  instant.  Colonel  Kolb  was 
then  here.  He  is  of  opinion  that  you  might  securely  take 
post  with  your  brigade  upon  the  Pedee,  opposite  theCheraws; 
to  this,  if  it  meets  with  your  approbation,  I  have  not  the 
smallest  objection.  On  the  contrary,  I  recommend  to  you 
to  do  it  immediately.  I  desire  you  will  acquaint  Colonels 
Marion  and  Giles  with  your  intentions,  and  recommend  it 
to  them  to  make  diversions  against  the  enemy's  posts  below. 
It  is  not  improbable  but  you  may,  soon  after  your  arrival 
upon  Pedee,  hear  something  from  General  Sumpter.  You 
may,  thereupon,  with  proper  caution  being  taken,  corre- 
spond and  co-operate  with  him.  But  this  information  must 
be  kept  a  profound  secret  to  every  one  but  yourself. 
"  I  am.  Sir, 
"  Your  affectionate,  humble  Servant, 

"  Horatio  Gates. 

"  Brigadier-General  Harrington, 
''near  Cross  Creek.-" 

On  the  day  this  letter  was  written.  Colonel  Martin,  in 
behalf  of  the  Board  of  War  of  N.C.,  addressed  General 
Harrington  on  the  same  subject. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  335 

It  was  a  matter  of  great  importance  to  the  inhabitants 
on  tlie  Pedec. 

"  War  Office,  Hillsborough,  Octr.  lltb,  1780. 

"  Sir, — General  Gates's  orders  for  your  retreat  from  the 
Pedee  were  unknown  to  the  Board  of  War  until  your  arrival 
at  Cross  Creek ;  a  post  so  essential  to  be  kept  up  for  the 
support  of  this  State,  and  protection  of  our  neighljouring 
friends  in  South  Carolina,  that  the  Legislature  ha<l  this  ob- 
ject particularly  in  view. 

"  On  the  remonstrance  of  the  Board,  General  Gates  has 
countermanded  your  orders,  which  you  will  receive  with 
this.  As  ]\Iark's  Ferry  seems  rather  too  high  up  the  river 
for  the  purposes  intended,  you  will  therefore  please  to  exer- 
cise your  own  discretion  as  to  your  main  post  on  the  Pedee, 
so  that  it  be  not  far  above  or  below  the  boundary,  and  your 
particular  detachments.  The  army  stand  in  great  need  of 
pro^'isions,  particularly  cattle. 

"  Colonel  Brown  hath  a  particular  command  from  the 
Governor,  by  direction  of  the  Assembly,  to  collect  all  the 
cattle  on  or  near  Pedee,  so  as  not  to  distress  private  families 
or  individuals,  and  have  them  driven  into  the  interior  parts 
of  this  State.  You,  Sii',  will  have  the  superintendence  of 
Colonel  Brown  and  all  other  officers  serving  in  your  quar- 
ter, to  direct  their  particular  movements,  and  detachments 
to  join  you  or  otherwise. 

"  Other  officers  and  men  from  you  may  be  employed  in 
the  like  service,  which  is  so  importunate  and  pressing  at 
this  juncture. 

"  Mr.  Amis  is  directed  to  attend  and  receive  the  cattle, 
and  have  them  driven  to  this  post.  You  have  a  hint  dropped 
you  from  General  Gates,  which  perhaps  may  shortly  be  car- 
ried into  execution. 

"  General  Smallwood  has   accepted   the   command  of  our 
militia,  with  whom  you  will  please  to  corresjDond.      He,  with 
Colonel  Morgan,  has  marched  for  Salisbury. 
"  I  am,  with  respect, 
"  Your  most  obedient,  humble  Servant, 

"  Alexander  Martin, 
"  Brigadier- General  Harrington, 
'^  Cross  Creek." 


386  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHE  RAWS. 

The  movements  of  the  British  were  at  this  juncture  a 
subject  of  much  uncertainty  with  the  American  commanders. 
As  a  consequence,  counter-orders  were  constantly  being 
given.  Soon,  however,  this  state  of  things  was  to  pass 
away,  and  the  plans  of  the  enemy  to  be  more  clearly  de- 
veloped. About  the  latter  part  of  October,  General  Har- 
rington reached  the  Pedee  with  his  command,  and  took 
post  at  Haley^s  Ferry,  but  soon  removed  to  a  point  on  the 
river,  immediately  opposite  Cheraw.  He  was  kept  in  con- 
stant communication  with  the  Board  of  War  of  North 
Carolina,  as  well  as  with  the  commanders  of  the  South 
Carolina  forces  lower  down  the  Pedee.  General  Small- 
wood  addressed  him  soon  after. 

"Camp  New  Providence,  31st  Octr.,  1780. 

^^  Sir, — Since  my  acceptance  of  the  command  of  the 
militia,  I  have  not  had  an  opportunity  of  writing  you,  and 
am  still  at  a  loss  to  know  your  position,  or  where  to  direct 
for  you.  I  am  apprehensive  the  particular  quarters  to 
which  our  military  operations  have  been  confined,  have 
jointly  obstructed  this,  as  the  intermediate  country  has  been 
in  possession  of  the  enemy. 

"  It  is  necessary  I  should  know  your  strength,  resources, 
and  views,  Ijefore  I  could  with  propriety  point  out  any  par- 
ticular mode  to  govern  your  conduct,  or  regulate  it  under 
the  •  general  scale  or  system  to  be  adopted  in  our  future 
operations.  I  have  taken  this  opportunity,  therefore,  by 
Colonel  Davie  (who  is  ordered  for  particular  purposes  to 
that  part  of  the  Tory  country  lying  between  us),  to  write 
you,  to  be  transmitted,  if  necessary,  by  a  few  horsemen, 
upon  whose  return  you  will  be  so  obliging  as  to  favor  me 
with  the  necessary  information  above  required. 

"  The  British,  two  days  ago,  were  encamped  at  or  near 
Lee's  Mill,  said  to  be  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  below  the 
cross  roads  from  that  place.  Roads  lead  to  the  westward 
— Congaree,  Charles-town,  and  Camden — so  that  no  just 
conclusion  can  be  drawn  of  their  next  movement  or 
views. 

"  Our  strength  is  so  small  here,  and  without  artillery, 
that  nothing  can  be  attempted   against    them,  especially   as 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  337 

we  should  liave  a  river  in  our  rear,  and  our  supplies  princi- 
pally to  "Ije  drawn  from  this  side ;  but  I  shortly  expect 
General  Gates  on  with  the  concentrated  troops,  when  per- 
haps something  may  be  effected.  We  have  just  received 
advices  from  Governor  Jefferson,  of  the  arrival  of  a  large 
fleet  of  the  enemy  Avithin  the  Capes  of  Virginia,  that  they 
were  debarking  on  the  22nd  instant ;  but  he  does  not  men- 
tion their  number,  or  where  they  were  landing,  though,  I 
imagine,  at  Portsmouth,  and  the  number  to  be  the  same 
lately  embarked  at  New  York,  and  recently  destined  against 
West  Point;  but  the  capture  of  Andre,  the  British  Adju- 
tant-General, who  acted  as  a  spy,  and  the  discovery  of 
Arnold^s  treachery,  changes  their  course  for  Virginia. 

"  You  have  no  doubt  heard  of  Arnold^s  perfidy,  and  the 
deep  plot  laid  by  him  and  Andre  of  trepanning  our  excellent 
Commander-in-Chief,  and  betraying  the  forts  at  West 
Point,  with  4000  men. 

"  The  conquerors  of  Ferguson  and  his  party  I   expected 
to  join  me  here,  but  they  have  generally  dispersed. 
"  I  am,  very  respectfully, 

"  Sir,  your  obt.  humble  Servant, 

"  W.  Small  WOOD,  Secretary. 

"  Gen.  Harrington." 

Colonel  Brown  wSs  still  on  the  Pedee,  rendering  effective 
service  against  the  Tories.  He  wrote  again  to  the  general, 
from 

"  Camp,  Bear  Swamp,  Novr.  4fch,  1780. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  received  your  favor  of  the  26th 
of  October,  dated  near  Haley^s  Ferry.  It  gives  me  plea- 
sure to  hear  you  have  marched  to  a  part  of  the  country  that 
so  much  wanted  your  assistance ;  and  I  can  assure  you,  I 
have  been  ever  since  I  received  your  first  orders,  upon  the 
march  after  those  scoundrels,  and  can  inform  you  the  report 
concerning  Capt.  Moore  is  partly  false,  as  he  did  not  lose 
one  man,  and  but  one  slightly  wounded.  But  Barficld  did 
surprise  him  and  took  several  of  his  horses  ;  but  I  have  paid 
them  tolerably  well  for  it.  I  have  killed  Miles  Barfield, 
wounded  two  others  of  the  Barfields ;  and,  it  is  said,  Jesse 

z 


338  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Barfield  is  shot  through  the  hand^  but  the  certainty  I  cannot 
tell.  I  have  got  four  more  of  the  Barfields  well  ironed 
and  under  guard,  whom  I  am  very  choice  of.  You  men- 
tioned you  would  be  glad  to  know  how  I  came  on  in  collect- 
ing cattle.  I  have  got  259  head  and  sent  them  to  Head- 
quarters, and  have  just  got  to  collecting  again,  as  Barfield 
hath  prevented  me  for  a  fortnight  past.  I  hope  you  will 
write  to  me  by  every  opportunity,  and  I  will  not  fail. 
"  And  am,  Sir,  with  respect, 

"  Your  humble  Servant, 

"  Thos  Brown. 

"  General  Harrington,  near  Haley^s  Ferry .^^ 

The  family  of  Barfield,  to  several  of  whom  Col.  Brown's 
letter  refers,  lived  on  Little  Pedee,  and  had  now  become 
notorious. 

The  history  of  their  leader,  Major  Barfield,  the  most 
prominent  among  them,  was  one,  unhappily  for  them- 
selves and  the  country,  not  unfrequent  in  the  days  that 
tried  men's  souls  3  furnishing  a  sad  illustration  of  the  fact, 
how  trivial  causes  are  permitted  to  lead  to  a  decisive  and 
fatal  change  in  the  conduct  of  life.  Major  Barfield  is  said 
to  have  been  a  captain  in  the  American  service  at  the  first 
siege  of  Charles-town.  Some  indignity  was  offered  him  by 
a  superior  officer,  and  he  appealed  for  fedress  to  the  general 
in  command. 

It  was  not  granted ;  and  becoming  morbidly  affected,  he 
took  revenge  by  deserting  the  cause  of  his  country,  carry- 
ing a  number  with  him,  and  proving  himself  ever  after,  a 
bitter  and  relentless  foe.  He  was  possessed  of  superior 
abilities,  with  a  commanding  person  and  respectable  fortune, 
and  became  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  disaffected  in- 
habitants between  Great  and  Little  Pedee. 

During  the  course  of  the  war,  he  took  refuge  on  some 
occasion  in  the  British  camp,  was  seized  with  the  small- 
pox and  died.  The  predatory  warfare  between  the  Whigs 
and  Tories  was  actively  carried  on  in  the  adjoining  parts  of 
North  Carolina. 

The  following  letter  of  Colonel  Davison  to  General 
Harrington  refers  to  the  subject. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHE  RAWS.  339 

"  On  Brown  Creek,  near  Lanier,  Gth  Novr.,  1780. 

"Dear  General^ 

"  I  proceeded  according  to  your 
orders,  and  ou  Brown  Creek  we  took  a  grand  Tory  by  the 
name  of  Thomas  Bhvke.  I  put  him  under  a  guard  and 
sent  him  off  to  James  Boggin's ;  but  before  they  got  tliere, 
the  prisoner  endeavoured  to  make  his  escape.  The  guard 
fired  at  liim  and  killed  him. 

"  Horses  are  very  scarce  in  this  quarter.  I  have  collected 
a  few  very  good  beef  cattle,  and  put  them  in  my  OAvn  field 
about  three  miles  from  where  the  river  road  crosses  Brown 
Creek.  I  think  I  can  gather  a  good  many  beef  cattle  in 
this  country,  by  the  information  I  have.  John  May  came 
in  to  me,  and  promised  to  be  of  all  the  service  he  can  to 
his  country ;  and,  indeed,  he  has  been  very  useful  to  me 
since  I  have  been  in  these  parts  ;  but,  as  I  heard  you  men- 
tion something  about  him  in  yoiu'  camp,  I  have  ordered 
him  down  to  you. 

"  Dennis  M'Clendon  was  taken  yesterday  morning  and 
brought  to  me  by  Major  Miller,  &c.  By  tlie  best  authority, 
the  old  man  intended  to  come  in  as  soon  as  he  could  find 
some  of  his  own  county  officers.  We  have  several  Tories 
laying  out  yet,  though  I  think  all  will  come  in  except  those 
who  have  gone  to  the  British. 

"  Our  general  muster  is  on  Thursday  next,  at  May's 
!Mill.  And  then  the  militia  of  this  county  is  to  be  stationed 
at  Lanier^s  plantation  on  Brown  Creek  ;  and  then  we  will 
proceed  immediately  to  gather  all  the  beef  cattle  in  these 
parts,  except  you  order  otherwise. 

"  The  bearer  hereof  waits  on  you  for  your  orders.  Please 
to  send  me  some  salt  if  possible.  I  have  sent  Dennis 
^I'Lendon  and  Stephen  Murphy  under  a  guard,  in  the 
care  of  Lieut.  Colter.  I  have  no  news  worth  writing  to 
you.  I  am  just  setting  off  to  the  head  of  Brown  Creek 
and  Lane  Creek,  and  shall  not  be  back  until  the  muster. 
"  I  am,  dear  General, 

"  Your  most  obt.  Servant, 

"  Geo.  Davison. 

"  N.B. — I  beg  to  be  excused  for  not  writing  to  you 
sooner.'^ 


340  HISTORY  OF    THE    OLD    CHEKxVWS. 

On  the  Pedee  occasional  reverses  were  experienced,  but 
not  of  very  serious  consequence.  Barfield  was  roaming 
through  the  country,  plundering  and  killing  as  opportunity 
offered,  though  forced  to  be  cautious  in  his  movements. 
Col.  Brown  continues  the  narrative  : — 

"  Camp  near  Caird's  Mill,  the  9th  of  Novr.,  1V80. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  this  evening  received  yours,  dated 
this  day,  near  Charraw  Ferry,  with  the  disagreeable  news  of 
Capt.  Murphy's  defeat,  and  highly  approve  of  your  plan, 
and  will  do  everything  in  my  power  to  put  it  in  execution, 
as  it  is  a  most  dreadful  aifair  that  such  a  set  of  scoundrels 
should  be  allowed  to  exist  upon  earth.  I  have  162  men,  of 
whom  I  have  about  45  horse,  fit  for  duty.  I  expect  to  be 
to-morrow  at  Caird's  Mill ;  and  would  recommend  it  to  the 
officers  commanding  your  posts,  to  meet  me  on  Sunday  at 
Jonathan  Miller's,  as  Barfield  resorts  near  that  place. 
Your  troops  can  cross  Little  Pedee  at  Gibson's,  and  then 
there  is  a  direct  road  to  Miller's.  Yesterday,  Barfield  fell 
in  with  5  of  your  men  that  left  your  camp  on  Monday,  by 
the  names  of  Robert  Vernon,  Matthew  White,  Theophilus 
Eavens,  —  Hadley  (the  other  name  I  cannot  tell),  and  kept 
them  till  about  midnight,  and  then  took  all  their  horses  and 
arms,  paroled  them  and  let  them  go. 

"  I  would  recommend  it  to  you  to  send  a  formidable 
troop  of  horse,  as  Barfield  can  raise  70  or  80  horse  himself, 
and  is  determined  to  prevent  any  cattle  being  collected 
amongst  them  ;  and,  I  imagine,  there  might  be  two  or  three 
hundred  head  of  good  cattle  got,  if  they  could  be  once 
broken  up. 

"  Barfield  attacked  my  regiment  last  Monday  week,  at 
night ;  but  they  did  us  no  damage,  only  slightly  wounded 
two  men.  I  wrote  to  you  a  few  days  ago  by  Cross  Creek, 
and  hope  to  hear  from  you  by  every  opportunity.  And  am. 
Sir,  with  respect, 

''  Your  humble  Servant, 

"  Thos.  Brown,  C.T.T." 

Cautious  and  rapid  in  their  movements,  approaching  by 
stealth    and  generally  under  cover  of  darkness,  it  was  diffi- 


HISTORY   OF    THE   OLD   CHERAWS.  341 

cult  for  tlie  Wliigs  to  capture  the  marauding  parties  of 
Tories.  Under  Ijarficld,  the  organization  was  effective  and 
formidable. 

The  South  Carolina  Gazette  and  American  Journal, 
Charles-town,  of  Nov.  15th,  contained  the  following  intelli- 
gence : — "  We  are  authorized  to  inform  the  public  that 
about  200  of  the  inhabitants  near  Pedee  River,  over  whom 
Mr.  Marion  and  his  associates  for  some  time  past  have  ex- 
ercised the  most  despotic  and  cruel  tyranny,  lately  collected 
together  in  arms,  and  fell  in  Avith  a  gang  of  banditti,  whom 
they  routed  and  entirely  dispersed.  The  leader  of  the  rebels, 
a  Col.  Murphy,  was  amongst  the  killed. 

"  A  few  days  since,  the  victorious  Loyalists  joined  the 
King's  forces  posted  at  George-town.  The  accounts  from 
that  part  of  the  country  represent  the  people  eagerly  dis- 
posed to  contribute  their  assistance  towards  preventing  any 
future  inroads  of  the  rebels." 

Fortunately  for  his  country,  the  report  of  Col.  Murphy's 
death  was  false.  He  survived  this  and  many  other  bloody 
conflicts,  to  see  both  foreign  and  domestic  foes  subdued. 
"  Mr.  Marion,"  so  contemptuously  alluded  to,  had  already 
become  a  terror  to  the  enemy,  and  was  yet  to  see  many  a 
proud  officer,  with  once  victorious  soldiers,  suppliants  before 
him. 

Gen.  Small  wood  continued  to  write,  giving  an  interesting 
account  of  the  general  progress  of  events. 

"  Camp,  November  15tL,  1780. 

"  Sir, — I  received  your  two  favors  of  the  28th  October 
and  5th  inst.,  some  time  after  I  wrote  you  on  the  31st 
ultimo.  They  were  delivered  by  some  militia  from  Gen. 
Butler's  camp,  and  had  been  delayed  on  the  road.  The 
expresses  you  sent  never  came  further  than  Salisbury,  which 
prevented  my  writing  as  I  could  have  wished. 

"  I  must  request  you  in  future  to  direct  the  expresses  to 
deliver  their  despatches  in  person,  that  they  may  be  im- 
mediately answered  on  their  return ;  but  I  hope  our  com- 
munication shortly  may  be  opened  upon  a  more  direct  route 
through  Lynche's  Creek. 

"  I  daily   expect  the  arrival  of  General   Gates  with  the 


342  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Continental  troops,  when  our  strength  will  enable  us  to  ad- 
vance lower  down,  and  it  then  may  be  necessary  for  you  to 
advance  across  the  country,  to  co-operate  with  us ;  and,  in 
the  interim,  as  I  am  unacquainted  with  the  country,  I  could 
wish  you  would  point  out,  or  give  your  opinion  upon  the 
propriety  of  taking  a  position  somewhere  upon  Black  River, 
or  Lynchers  Creek.  If  such  a  position  could  be  taken  with 
security,  it  would  have  a  happy  tendency  in  several  respects, 
particularly  in  facilitating  some  plans  in  view — the  suppres- 
sion of  the  Tories,  and  securing  supplies,  which  are  much 
exhausted  in  this  quarter.  You  will  also  be  so  obliging  as 
to  favor  me  with  returns  of  your  strength,  resources,  and 
views,  as  I  requested  in  my  last.  We  now  draw  supplies 
of  forage  and  provision  from  the  upper  part  of  Lynchers 
Creek,  and  the  Tory  part  of  the  Waxsaw  settlement ;  and  I 
am  now  extending  my  views  lower  down  in  these  quarters 
and  across  the  Catawbas. 

"LordCornwallis  remains  atWynsborough  inactive, Tarle- 
ton  below  on  the  Santee,  wasting  and  destroying  all  before 
him,  which  indicates  an  evacuation  of  Camden.  This  place, 
I  think,  might  have  been  reduced  ere  this_,  and  Tarleton 
circumscribed  in  his  depredations,  had  the  Continental  troops 
been  forwarded ;  but  in  our  present  weak  state.  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  has  taken  so  judicious  a  position,  either  to  cut  off  our 
retreat  or  aid  his  parties,  that  these  enterprises  could  not 
be  risked. 

"  I  think  something  may  shortly  be  effected,  unless  the 
enemy  should  be  reinforced,  which  I  really  am  apprehensive 
of,  and  that  the  arrival  of  the  French  fleet  you  mention  in 
yours  of  the  5th  inst.  is  premature.  I  wish  they  may  not 
prove  to  be  British,  with  a  reinforcement,  and  the  firing, 
salutes  or  signal  guns,  as  we  have  no  intelligence  of  a 
French  fleet  from  the  latest  accounts  from  the  northward ; 
but  I  am  informed  of  a  late  embarkation  from  New  York, 
conjectured  to  be  destined  to  Charles-town ;  and  also  that 
some  part  of  the  fleet  and  forces  from  Portsmouth  had  sailed 
for  that  place. 

"  Sumpter  has  lately  defeated  a  party  of  two  hundred  Bri- 
tish cavalry  and  infantry  mounted,  and  a  small  number  of 
Tories,  who  attacked  him  at  Fish  Dam  Ford,  at  3  o^clock  on 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS.  34  3 

the  morning  of  tlic  9tli  instant.  The  commanding  officer, 
Major  WcmySj  a  surgeon,  and  sergeant-major,  were  taken 
M'oundcd,  with  upwards  of  twenty  more  prisoners,  some  valu- 
able horses  and  arms.  Seven  Avere  killed  and  more  wounded, 
who  were  carried  off.  Sumpter's  loss  was  only  four  killed 
and  two  wounded. 

"  I  am,  with  very  great  regard  and  esteem, 

"  Sir,  your  obedient,  humble  Servant^ 

W.  Smallwood. 
"  Brigadier- General  Harrington, 
Kershaw  Ferry ."^ 

For  several  months  past,  IMarionf  had  been  actively  en- 
gaged w  ith  the  enemy  in  the  parts  below,  and  shortly  before 
this,  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  upon  George-town.  He 
gave  the  following  account  of  it  to  Gen.  Harrington. 

"  Blackmingo,  I7th  Novr.,  1780. 

-Sir, 

"  Since  my  last  to  you.  Colonel  Tarleton  retreated 
to  Camden,  after  destroying  all  the  houses  and  provisions  in 
his  way.  By  information,  I  was  made  to  believe  there  was 
but  fifty  British  in  George-town,  and  no  militia,  which  in- 
duced me  to  attempt  taking  that  place.  But,  unluckily, 
the  day  before  I  got  there  they  received  a  reinforcement  of 
two  hundred  Tories  under  Captains  Barfield  and  Lewis  from 
Pedee.  The  next  day  the  Tories  came  out  and  we  scummaged 
with  them. 

"  Part  I  cut  off  from  the  tow^n,  and  drove  the  rest  in, 
except  the  two  men  killed,  and  twelve  taken  prisoners.  Our 
loss  was  Lieutenant  Gabriel  Marion,  and  one  private  killed. 
These  two  men  were  killed  after  they  surrendered.  We  had 
three  or  four  wounded,  one  since  dead  of  his  wound. 

"  Captain  Barfield  was  wounded  in  his  head  and  body,  but 
got  off.  Captain  James  Lewis,  commonly  called  '  Otter  Skin 
Lewis,^    was    one  killed.      I   stayed  two  days  within  three 


*  Kershaw  Ferry  was  that  at  Cheraw,  so  called  then. 
■f  Marion  is  supposed  to  have  been  at  this  time  a  colonel,  though  previously 
called  general.      In   August,   he  was   commissioned  by  Governor  Kutledge  to 
take  command  of  the  post  at  Lynche's  Creek,  but  not  appointed  general  until 
some  time  after  that,  as  James  says  in  his  "  Sketch,"  p.  4G  (note). 


344  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

miles  of  tlie  town,    in  which    time   most  of  the  Tories  left 
their  friends  and  went  home. 

''  Finding  the  regulars  in  the  town  to  be  eighty  men, 
besides  militia,  strongly  entrenched  in  a  redoubt,  with 
swivels  and  cohorns  on  their  parapet,  I  withdrew  my  men, 
as  I  had  not  six  rounds  per  man,  and  shall  not  be  able  to 
proceed  on  any  operations  without  a  supply  of  ammunition, 
which  I  will  be  obliged  to  you  to  furnish  me  Avith  by  Captain 
Potts,  who  commands  a  detachment  to  guard  the  prisoners 
taken.  I  have  not  heard  anything  from  General  Gates 
since  the  letter  you  sent  me. 

"  A  man  from  the  high  hills  of  Santee,  within  eight  miles 
of  Camden,  says  that  Washington's  Horse  is  at  Rugely's 
Mill,  one  mile  from  there.  I  beg  to  know  where  our  army 
is,  and  what  news  from  them. 

"  I  am,  with  esteem,  your  most  obedient  Servant, 

"  Francis  Marion. 

"  Hon.  Brig.-General  Harrington,  Pedee.^'' 

Colonel  Kolb  was  now  in  command  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Long  Bluff",  and  the  acknowledged  leader  on  the  Upper 
Pedee. 

In  reply  to  a  call  from  General  Harrington,  he  made  the 
following  return  of  his  force  : — 

"  To  Brig.-Gen.  Harrington. 
"  Dear  Sir, 

"  You  last  wrote  that  you  wanted 
to  see  me,  with  a  return  of  my  regiment  this  day  in  camp. 
I  should  be  happy  in  waiting  on  you  at  any  time  after  to- 
day. I  think  to  ride  up  to-morrow,  if  I  should  not  be  sick. 
"  Sir,  you  wanted  to  ascertain  the  number  of  men  I  had 
in  the  regiment. 

"Agreeably  to  my  returns,  I  have  but  233  men,  besides 
officers.  I  shall  send  you  the  part  of  my  regiment  you 
require  to-morrow,  or  next  day.  I  shall  have  them  marched 
up  under  command  of  some  one  captain. 

"  I  am.  Sir,  your  most  humble  Servant, 

"  Abel  Kolb. 
"  27th  of  Novr.,  1780." 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  345 

The  number  here  returned  was  small  indeed,  having 
doubtless  been  much  reduced  by  disease  and  the  sword.  The 
exposure  and  privation  endm-ed  in  the  kind  of  warfare  now 
carried  on  must  have  been  very  great,  wasting  away  im- 
perceptibly what  was  not  at  once  destroyed. 

The  spirit  of  revolt  on  the  Pedee  gave  much  concern  to 
the  enemy,  particularly  in  connexion  with  the  holding  their 
post  at  Camden.  On  the  3rd  of  December,  Lord  Cornwallis, 
from  his  camp  at  Wynsborough,  wrote  to  Sir  H.  Clinton  on 
the  subject.  He  said  : — "  Colonel  Marion  had  so  wrought 
(m  the  minds  of  the  people,  partly  by  the  terror  of  his 
threats  and  cruelty  of  his  punishments,  and  partly  by  the 
promise  of  plunder,  that  there  was  scarcely  an  inhabitant 
between  the  Santee  and  Pedee  that  was  not  in  arms  against 
lis.  Some  parties  had  even  crossed  the  Santee,  and  carried 
terror  to  the  gates  of  Charles-town.  My  first  object  was  to 
reinstate  matters  in  that  quarter,  without  which  Camden 
could  receive  no  supplies. 

"  I  therefore  sent  Tarleton,  who  pursued  Marion  for 
several  days,  obliged  his  corps  to  take  to  the  swamps,  and 
by  convincing  the  inhabitants  that  there  was  a  power  superior 
to  Marion,  who  could  likewise  reward  and  punish,  so  far 
checked  the  insurrection  that  the  greatest  part  of  them  have 
not  dared  to  appear  in  arms  against  us  since  his  expe- 
dition."* 

Notwithstanding  the  tone  of  this  communication,  Corn- 
wallis had  sad  forebodings  of  the  future  that  awaited  him,  as 
his  correspondence  shows.  He  was  much  deceived  in  the 
ojDiniou,  if  in  reality  it  was  entertained,  that  the  patriots 
Avere  conAdnced  of  a  power  superior  to  Marion.  The  British 
had  exercised  so  much  oppression  and  rapacity  over  all  those 
Avho  would  not  join  them,  and  so  much  insolence  over  those 
who  did,  that  the  people  of  Carolina  found  there  Avas  no 
alternative  between  a  state  of  downright  vassalage  on  the 
one  hand,  and  of  unyielding  warfare  on  the  other.  The 
men  of  principle  already  had  done  so,  or  were  prepared  to 
take  up  arms  ;  and  in  general,  only  the  unprincipled  remained 
Avith   the  enemy  in  expectation  of  plunder,  or  from  motives 


"  Tarleton,"  p.  200. 


346  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

of  fear.  They  had  now  learned^  besides,  that  the  country 
might  be  overrun  with  more  faclHty  than  kept  in  subjection 
by  the  necessarily  divided  forces  of  the  enemy,  and  that  a 
partisan  warfare,  such  as  Marion  had  now  begun,  was  the 
best  that  could  be  carried  on  against  a  foe  superior  in  force 
and  discipline  to  themselves,"^ 

In  common  with  the  inhabitants  of  other  parts  of  the 
State,  the  Whigs  of  Pedee  had  been  made  to  contribute 
their  faithful  slaves  to  the  working  force  of  the  enemy. 
Among  the  returns  of  negroes  in  the  different  departments, 
were  the  following  in  the  published  records  of  the  day : — 
"  Novr.  1780.t  Negroes  in  the  engineer  department,  that 
joined  the  army  since  the  landing  under  Sir  H.  Clinton,  in 
1780. 

"  Sam,        taken  fi*om  Colonel  Hart 
Dick,  „        „  „        Kolb 

James,  „        „  „  „ 

Simon,         „        „  „  „ 

Pompey,       „ 
"  In  Barrack  Master^s  department : — 

"  Abraham,  taken  from  Colonel  Kolb, 
Jupiter,  „         „      General  Harrington." 

On  the  18th  of  November,  the  Pedee  country  and  the 
State  at  large  sustained  a  hea^y  loss  in  the  death  of  Gen. 
Alexander  Mcintosh.  J 

In  every  relation  of  life,  this  patriotic  and  honored 
citizen  had  ever  maintained  the  most  exemplary  character. 
A  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  and  one  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Observation  for  St.  David^s  Parish  ;  a  representa- 
tive successively,  and  the  first  senator  elected,  for  St.  David^s  ; 
the  President  of  St.  David^s  Society  from  its  organization ; 
appointed  first  Major,  then  Lieut. -Colonel  in  the  Provincial 
service,  afterwards  Brigadier- General  of  Militia,  and  member 
of  the  Legislative  Council,  as  first  established — it  was  his 


*  James's  "  Sketch  of  Marion,"  p.  84.  f   Gazette  of  November,  1780. 

X  This  entry  appears  in  the  journal  of  Mr.  Pugh  : — 

"  Sunday,  19th  Novr.  preached  Gen.  M'Intosh's  funeral,  at  the  Welch  Neck, 
on  2  Timothy,  iv.  7,  8." 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  347 

happiness  to  fill  every  position  to  which  he  was  called  with 
fidelity  and  honor.  Of  superior  mental  endowments^  and 
well-balanced  character,  commanding  in  person,  and  pos- 
sessed of  an  ami)le  fortune,  he  was  enabled  to  exert  a  degree 
of  influence  beyond  most  of  his  contemporaries  in  the  ser- 
vice of  his  country,  in  which  he  was  active  and  prominent 
from  the  commencement  of  the  struggle  for  liberty.  Nor, 
iu  the  midst  of  so  troublous  a  period  did  he  forget  the  chief 
duty  of  man.  In  war,  he  meekly  served  the  Prince  of 
Peace,  and  died  the  death  of  the  righteous. 

General  Harrington  was  still  on  the  Pedee,*  and  continued 
to  hold  that  position  until  some  time  in  December.  He 
then  moved  up  the  river,  and  was  shortly  after  at  Grassey 
Creek,  Roanoke,  where  he  receiyed  the  following  letter  from 
Col.  John  Donaldson  : — 

"  Richmond  County,  Pedee,  30th  Deer.,  1780. 

''  Dear  General, 

"  This  will  serve  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
youi-  favors,  dated  the  11th  and  19th  inst.,  for  which  I  am 
much  obliged  to  you.  Your  order  on  me  by  W.  Hardick 
shall  be  answered  the  first  opportunity.  As  to  news,  I  am 
at  a  loss  to  inform  you  of  any.  As  to  the  enemy's  move- 
ments, was  last  night  informed  that  Lord  Cornwallis  had 
retreated  to  Camden,  but  am  not  certain  as  to  the  truth. 
Before  this  reaches  you,  I  imagine  you  will  hear  of  the  Hon. 
JNIajor-General  Greenes  marching  here  with  a  number  of 
Continentals,  Virginia  Militia,  and  some  cavalry ;  but  as  to 
real  number,  am  not  acquainted,  for  I  have  never  been  in 
camp  yet,  which  is  on  Hicks^s  Creek. 


*  The   following   is   one   of  many  accounts   of  articles  furnished  General 
Harrington's  forces  on  Pedee  : — 
"  State  of  South  Carolina. 

"  To  George  Hicks. 
Novr.  6, 1780, 1921  lbs.  of  pork  @  32.y.  8<?.  per  100,  £31     7     6 
„  15,     „     lUO  bundles  corn  blades,  @  7U(/.  per  100,    0  15     6 
„  2y,     „     180  busls.  corn,  @  3*.  6c^.  31  10     8 

£63  13     8 

"  The  above  mentioned  pork,  corn  blades,  and  corn  were  impressed  for  use  of 
N.  C.  militia,  in  this  State,  under  command  of  Rrig.-Gen.  Harrington,  who  at 
that  time  had  the  command  of  the  S.  C.  militia  on  both  sides  of  the  Pedee." 


348  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

"  Brigadier- General  Morgan  is  left  with  some  chosen 
troops  on  the  Catawba  River,  Where  General  Sumpter  is, 
I  cannot  say.  General  Marion  has  had  two  small  skir- 
mishes with  the  Tories  and  British,  at  or  near  Nelson^s 
Ferry,  The  enemy  retreated  towards  Camdea.  He  took 
some  prisoners  and  killed  some,  the  number  not  known. 
His  Excellency,  John  Rutledge,  Esq.,  of  South  Carolina, 
General  Huger,  and  some  other  officers  belouging  to  that 
State,  are  in  camp. 

"  I  am  told  his  Excellency  is  going  to  camp  at  the  Che- 
raws,  I  hope  he  will  transmogriphy  the  Northern  Tories, 
and  make  them  know  that  liberty  has  not  declined  altogether 
her  friendship  for  that  State.  Col.  Thomas  Wade  has  got 
an  appointment  to  act  as  Commissary  for  the  South  State. 
He  speaks  of  building  300  flat-bottomed  boats,  as  to  the 
use  of  which  many  are  the  conjectures.  I  hope  for  the 
best. 

"  If  our  allies  are  but  near  Bermuda,  I  should  think 
Lord  Cornwallis  will  draw  near  to  Charles-town  for  support 
of  that  place.  It  was  almost  without  necessary  guards  a  few 
days  ago,  as  report  goes. 

"  I  have  spoken  to  Col,  Medlock  as  to  your  request,  but 
he  says  he  has  not  received  any  satisfactory  answer  from  the 
Board  of  War ;  but  as  he  is  coming  to  the  Assembly  in  the 
course  of  the  week,  he  may  settle  that  matter. 

''  He  was  appointed,  at  our  Court,  Commissioner,  and 
gave  security  for  the  same.  How  far  we  are  justifiable  in 
holding  Court,  I  cannot  say.  Some  necessary  things  were 
done — for  particulars,  shall  refer  you  to  Col,  Medlock, 

"  Col,  Wade  was  at  my  house  a  few  days  ago,  and  hinted 
he  would  be  willing  to  be  done  with  the  Light  Horse  Regi- 
ment for  the  three  counties.  He  told  me  he  would  write  to 
you  on  the  subject.  If  so,  and  any  party  of  horse  or  foot 
should  be  thought  proper  to  be  raised,  and  that  for  a  cer- 
tain time,  not  less  than  six  or  twelve  months,  if  thought 
best,  and  that  proper  arms  might  be  had  for  them ;  then, 
if  you  should  think  that  my  weak  abilities  could  be  of  any 
service  to  my  country,  I  shall  be  willing  to  serve,  so  that 
strict  discipline  may  be  allowed,  when  on  duty.  But  shall 
refer  the  whole  to  your  good  judgment.    I  rest  fully  assured 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  349 

of  your  doing    everything    iu  yonr   power  for  your  much- 
injured  country,  and  remain,  dear  General, 
"  Your  most  obedient,  and 

"  Very  humble  Servant, 

"  John  Donaldson. 

"  To  Hon.  Brigadier-General  Harrington, 
"  Grassey  Creek,  Roanoke. 

"  P.S. — Sir,  please  to  present  my  compliments  to  Mrs. 
Harrington,  and  all  inquiring  friends. — 1  am  yom's,  &c. 

"  J.  D. 

^^N.B. — I  am  in  great  want  of  a  good  sword.  In  case 
of  employment,  will  pay  any  expenses. — I  am  yours, 

"  J.  D." 

General  Green,  who  had  been  sent  to  take  charge  of  the 
Southern  Department,  arrived  at  Charlotte,  North  Caro- 
lina, December  2.  But,  in  consequence  of  the  scarcity  of 
food,  that  region  having  been  greatly  plundered,  he  divided 
his  forces.  Gen.  Morgan  was  sent  with  a  strong  body  to 
the  western  parts  of  South  Carolina,  while  General  Green, 
with  the  main  column,  marched  on  20th  December  for  Pedee. 
His  force  now  consisted  of  not  more  than  one  thousand  Conti- 
nentals, and  about  as  many  militia.  He  was  bare  of 
ammunition  and  clothing,  and  had  no  money  to  pay  for 
them.* 

He  pitched  his  camp  on  the  southern  bank  of  Husband's 
Creekjt  three  miles  from  Cheraw,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  but  moved  almost  immediately  after  to  a  position  on 
Hicks's  Creek,  a  mile  higher  up. 

Lord  Cornwallis,  in  a  letter  to  Col.  Tarleton,  dated  Wyns- 
borough,  Dec.  26th,  1780,  thus  wrote  : — "  A  man  came  this 
morning  fi'om  Charlotte-town  ;  his  fidelity  is,  however,  veiy 
doubtful.  He  says,  that  Green  marched  on  Wednesday  last 
towards  the  Cheraws,  to  join  Gen.  Caswell ;  and  that 
Morgan,  with  his  infantry,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
four  of  Washington's  Light  Horse,  crossed  Biggin's  Ferry 


*  James's  "  Sketch  of  Marion,"  p.  85. 
•j-  Some  remains  of  his  first  encampment  were  to  be  seen  a  few  years  since. 


350  HISTORY   OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Oil  Thursday  and  Friday  last,  to  join  Lacy.^  I  expect  more 
certain  information," 

Of  the  movements  made  about  this  time,  Tarleton  wrote 
afterwards  : — "  During  the  preparation  for  the  second  inva- 
sion of  North  Carolina,  emissaries  had  been  despatched  into 
that  Province  to  obtain  intelligence  of  the  force  and  designs 
of  the  enemy. 

"  Near  the  end  of  December  information  was  received  that 
Gen.  Green  had  made  a  division  of  his  troops,  which  did 
not  exceed  one  thousand  four  hundred  men,  exclusive  of 
the  militia ;  and  that  he  had  committed  the  light  infantry 
and  Col.  Washington's  cavalry  to  Gen.  Morgan,  with  direc- 
tions to  pass  the  Catawba  and  Broad  Rivers,  in  order  to 
collect  the  militia  in  the  districts  through  which  he 
marched,  and  afterwards  threaten  Ninety-six ;  whilst  he  con- 
ducted the  other  division  of  the  Continentals  to  Haley's 
Ferry,  on  the  River  Pedee,  to  form  a  junction  with  Gen. 
Caswell,  and  give  jealousy  to  Camden.  This  appeared  to  be 
the  outline  of  the  American  design  previous  to  the  arrival 
of  Gen.  Leslie's  reinforcements.  The  intelligence  Gen. 
Green  had  procured  since  his  appointment  to  the  southward, 
and  the  calculations  of  his  own  and  the  British  force,  might 
suggest  the  propriety  of  attempting  to  distress  the  frontier 
of  South  Carolina  by  a  desultory  war,  till  he  could  acquire 
a  command  sufficiently  numerous  and  well  disciplined  to 
conduct  more  decisive  operations. 

"  There  could  not  be  an  arrangement  better  chosen,  pro- 
vided the  Royalists  were  not  joined  by  any  additional  regi- 
ments ;  but  the  increase  of  the  English  army  would  certainly 
frustrate  such  a  disposition. 

"  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  Gen.  Green  would  have 
adopted  the  hazardous  plan  of  dividing  and  advancing  his 
troops,  if  he  had  received  authentic  information  of  Gen. 
Leslie's  command  being  withdrawn  from  Virginia  and 
united  to  the  force  in  South  Carolina ;  because  such  an 
accession  of  strength  would  naturally  produce  a  movement 
from  Wynsborough,  which,  if  executed  with  tolerable 
rapidity,  might  separate  the  two  divisions  of  the  American 


*  "  Tarleton,"  p.  207. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  351 

army,  and  endanger  their  being  totally  dispersed  or  de- 
stroyed/'^ 

The  disposition  of  his  forees  made  by  Gen.  Green  may 
have  been  hazardous,  and  was  doubtless  done  in  ignorance 
of  the  transfer  of  Leslie;  yet  the  enemy  failed  to  take 
advantage  of  it,  so  as  to  accomplish  the  results  most  confi- 
dently anticipated. 

The  advance  of  Green  to  Pedee  inspired  general  confidence 
in  that  part  of  the  State,  and  gave  a  new  impetus  to  the 
partisan  warfare  already  successfully  waged.  Thus  the  year 
1780  drew  to  a  close,  victory,  in  the  main,  having  followed 
the  invader's  steps.  And  yet  the  spirit  of  liberty  had 
revived ;  the  division  of  the  British  forces  to  keep  the  State 
in  subjection,  only  developed  the  weakness  of  the  enemy, 
and  pointed  out  the  way,  by  such  a  conflict  as  Marion, 
Kolb,  and  others  were  now  carrying  on,  of  ensuring  a  cer- 
tain and  not  very  remote  victory  in  the  end. 


*  "  Tarleton,"  pp.  207,  208.  It  would  seem,  from  what  Tarleton  here  says, 
that  General  Green's  first  design  might  have  been  to  go  to  Haley's  Ferry,  or 
possibly  that  report  was  circulated  to  mislead  the  enemy.  His  movement  was 
directly  to  Cheraw. 


352  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

General  Green  on  Pedee — His  retreat  into  North  Carolina — Progress  of  British 
arms — Extracts  from  Pug-h's  journal — Colonel  Murphy  and  the  Tories 
— Gideon  Gibson's  death — Difficulty  and  correspondence  between  Captain 
Snipes  and  Colonel  Kolb — The  latter  writes  to  General  Marion — VVliigs 
surprise  the  Tories  on  the  Three  Creeks — Harry  Sparks  killed — Tories 
routed — Whig  expeditions  against  them  to  Drowning  Creek  and  Cat  Fish — 
Tories  retaliate  on  Colonel  Ko!b — His  death — Adventures  of  Lewis  Malone 
Ayer — Other  scenes  of  that  day — Outrages  by  the  Tory  party — Kolb's 
character — Account  of  Captain  Jones,  the  Tory  leader,  and  others — Cartel 
for  exchange  of  prisoners  between  General  Green  and  Cornwallis — Corn- 
waUis's  movements — His  declining  fortunes  and  his  correspondence — Colonels 
Benton  and  Murphy,  and  other  leaders  on  Pedee — Extracts  from  Pugh's 
journal — Murphy's  fight  with  Tories  at  Bass's  Mill — Derangement  of  civil 
affairs — Ordinary  appointed  for  Cheraws — Gainey's  difficulty  with  Mui'phy 
— Treaty  between  Gainey  and  General  Marion — Gainey's  character — Inci- 
dent connected  with  battle  of  Eutaw — Legislative  elections  for  Cheraws — 
Colonel  Steward's  case — Mrs.  Steward's  petition — Steward's  character  and 
death — Confiscation  Bill — Extract  from  Royal  Gazette — Citizens  of  Cheraws 
included  in  the  Bill — Extracts  satirical  from  Royal  Gazette — General  Pinck- 
ney's  letter  to  General  Matthews. 

The  year  1781  opened  upon  strangely  varied  scenes  through- 
out the  State.  The  enemy  was  confident,  though  suffering 
from  reverses,  and  preparing  for  decisive  movements.  The 
presence  of  Gen.  Green  on  the  Pedee  kept  the  disaffected 
in  awe  during  his  brief  stay,  and  brought  with  it  a  state  of 
comparative  repose  to  the  inhabitants  in  the  adjacent  region. 
Col.  Kolb  was  now  in  the  full  tide  of  his  successful  career 
as  the  honored  champion  of  the  cause  of  America  in  the 
Cheraw  District.  Col.  Murphy  was  doing  valiant  service  in 
the  parts  lower  down  on  the  east,  Major  Benton  had  his 
post  on  the  west  of  the  river,  while  Marion  was  actively 
engaged  from  Lynchers  Creek  to  George-town. 

The  wearied  army  was  recruiting  in  camp  on  Hicks^s 
Creek.  John  Wilson,  then  a  young  and  active  Whig,  was 
appointed  captain  of  a  small  company  of  trusty  men,  called 
the  "  Munchausen  Corps,^'  as  a  light  troop,  to  scour  the 
country  around  during  Greenes  sojourn  on  the  Pedee. 
This,  however,  was  to  be   of  short   continuance.      The  pur- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  353 

suit  of  ]Morgaii  by  Coruwallis,  after  the  battle  of  Cow-pens, 
of  which  Gen.  Green  received  early  intelligence,  induced 
him  to  break  up  his  encampment  on  the  Pedee  and  move 
with  all  possible  despatch  in  order  to  join  Morgan.*  He 
went  in  advance,  with  a  small  party,  leaving  the  main  body 
to  follow  on.  The  march  commenced  on  the  28th  of 
January,  1781.  Of  the  almost  incredible  hardships  endured 
during  the  rigors  of  this  memorable  winter,  and  particularly 
on  the  retreat  from  Guilford  Court  House,  the  historians 
of  the  time  have  written.  Nothing  of  special  interest 
occurred  during  the  month's  stay  of  Green  on  the  Pedee. 
The  only  remains  of  his  correspondence  while  here  which 
have  appeared,  are  a  few  brief  letters  to  jMarion,  Sumpter  and 
others. 

His  departure  threw  the  Whigs  of  Cheraw  District  once 
more  upon  their  own  strong  arms  for  protection,  and  the 
warfare  with  the  Tories  was  renewed  with  unsparing  fero- 
city. 

Called  off,  as  many  of  them  were  to  the  assistance  of 
Marion,  advantage  was  taken  of  their  absence  by  marauding 
parties  to  ravage  the  country,  and  plunder  their  defenceless 
homes.  Alarming  accounts  were  also  spread  abroad  of  the 
progress  of  the  British  arms,  keeping  the  public  mind  in  a 
state  of  constant  agitation.  Mr.  Pugh's  journal  furnishes 
some  extracts  descriptive  of  the  time. 

"  Thursday,  25 th  January.  At  home  all  day.  Plad  certain 
news  of  Tarleton's  defeat  at  Broad  River.  Many  people 
here  all  day. 

"  Satui-day,  3rd  February.  Went  to  the  Mill,t  and  Lide's. 
Met  Lee's  horsemen  at  the  Mill. 

''  Thursday,  22nd.  Murphy's  company  ran  from  the 
Tories. 

"  Wednesday,  28th  March.  Had  the  news  that  Marion's 
camp  was  taken. 

"  Thursday,  29th.  Camp  not  taken.  The  British  at 
Burch's." 


*  James  Gillespie,  a  staunch  and  active  young  Whig,  who  resided  near 
Green's  Camp,  acted  as  guide  to  the  general  on  his  march  from  Pedee. 

■\  Long  after  known  as  Gibson's  Mill,  on  the  road  from  Long  Bluff  to 
George-town. 

A  A 


354  HISTOEY   OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

Lower  down,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  the  Tories 
made  frequent  incursions  from  Little  Pedee,  finding  ready- 
co-operation  on  the  part  of  some  in  that  immediate  region. 

The  Whigs  were  driven  in  some  cases  to  acts  of  cruel 
retaliation.  One  instance  of  this  kind  is  related  of  Col. 
Maurice  TNIurphy.  He  was  a  man  of  ungovernable  passion, 
which  was  often  inflamed  by  strong  drink.  On  the  occa- 
sion alluded  to  he  went  to  the  house  of  a  noted  Tory,  named 
Blackman,  then  somewhat  advanced  in  years,  and  inoffen- 
sive. He  had  several  sons,  however,  who  were  active  against 
the  Whigs.  Murphy^s  real  object,  doubtless,  was  to  disco- 
ver where  these  and  others  of  their  companions  were. 
Having  tied  Blackman,  he  asked  him  who  he  was  for ;  and 
upon  his  replying,  "  for  King  George,^^  gave  him  fifty  lashes. 
The  question  was  repeated  with  the  same  reply,  and  the 
like  punishment  inflicted,  until  the  fourth  time,  when,  upon 
finding  the  old  man  unyielding,  Mm-phy  was  compelled  to 
desist.  Blackman  lived  on  Cat  Fish,  and  the  place  is  yet 
called  "  Tory^s  Camp." 

Gideon  Gibson,  the  uncle  of  Murphy,  blamed  him  for 
his  conduct  on  this  occasion. 

Subsequently  Murphy  stopped  with  his  company  at  Gib- 
son^s  for  breakfast,  and  while  there  the  subject  was  resumed. 
A  quarrel  ensued,  and  as  Murphy  mounted  his  horse  to  start 
off",  Gibson  folloAved  him  to  the  door  and  said  something 
off'ensive,  whereupon  Murphy  shot  him  dead.  Three  of 
Gibson^s  sons  were  present  in  Murphy's  company,  and  were 
men  of  undoubted  courage ;  but  knowing  his  violent  temper 
and  desperate  resolutiouj  did  not  interfere.  Nothing  was 
done  to  Mui'phy  afterwards. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  Capt.  William  Clay  Snipes, 
from  the  Lower  Pedee,applied  toGov.Butledge  for  permission 
to  raise  an  independent  company  to  operate  westward  of  the 
Santee.  The  Governor  wrote  to  Gen.  Marion,  28th  January, 
from  Clieraw,  on  the  subject,  giving  his  sanction  to  the 
undertaking,  and  Gen.  Sumpter  subsequently  issued  instruc- 
tions to  the  same  efi'ect. 

In  raising  his  company.  Captain  Snipes  induced  some  of 
the  men  under  Col.  Kolb's  command  to  join  him.      This  led 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  355 

to  a  correspondence  and  protest  on  the  part  of  the  colonel 
against  such  a  proceeding. 

"  Sir, — I  am  informed  you  arc  taking  all  the  young  men 
that  I  have  ordered  to  join  Gen.  Marion  with  you  to  the 
southward.  I  must  now  beg  leave  to  inform  you  of  Gen. 
Marion^s  orders  against  such  proceedings,  which  I  have  just 
received,  forbidding  any  person  leaving  his  brigade  without 
his  leave.  "  I  am,  sir, 

"  Your  most  obedient,  humble  Servant, 

"  A.   KOLB. 

"  To  Capt.  Snipes." 

•  To  this  the  following  tart  reply  was  made  : — 

"April  16tb,  1781. 
"  Sir, — I  received  yours,  and  this  will  inform  you  that  I 
have  instructions  from  Gen.  Sumpter,  who  commands  Gen. 
IMarion,  to  raise  men  where  I  can  ;  and  as  to  Gen.  Marion^s 
orders,  in  this  case  it  avails  nothing. 
•'  I  am,  sir, 

"  Your  most  humble  Servant, 

"  William  Clay  Snipes.^'* 

Two  days  after  this  Col.  Kolb  wrote  to  Gen.  Marion  on 
the  subject,  complaining  of  Captain  Snipes^  course. 

"April  18th,  1781. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Through  much  difficulty  I  have  sent  you 
Captain  John  Wilds  with  a  few  men,  though  not  the  num- 
ber yon  expect. 

"  I  expressed  a  few  days  ago  the  opinion  that  I  should 
not  be  able  to  send  you  a  single  man^  for  as  soon  as  the 
men  were  ordered  to  join  you.  Snipes  and  some  officers 
whom  he  had  appointed  out  of  this  regiment,  endeavored 
to  prevent  their  joining  you,  by  telling  them  some  fine 
stories,  and  speaking  rather  disrespectfully  of  you,  as  1  have 
been  informed,  to  prevent  their  joining  you. 

"  As  soon  as  I  received   your   last    orders  I  immediately 


*  Gibbes's  "  Documentary  History,"  1781-82,  pp.  52,  53. 

A  A  2 


356  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

informed  Lieut.  Lyons,  whom  I  bad  ordered  to  join  you 
with  the  young  men  that  were  to  have  been  continued  with 
you,  of  your  orders,  informing  him  that  I  thought  the 
young  men  that  were  ready  in  turning  out  with  him  to  join 
Gen.  Sumpter  would  receive  the  same  advantage  by  joining 
you,  but  this  did  not  avail  anything. 

"  When  I  found  this  to  be  the  case,  I  wrote  him  again, 
also  wrote  Captain  Snipes,  a  copy  of  which  I  have  enclosed 
you  ;  also  Snipes^  answer,  I  saw  Lyons  yesterday  myself. 
I  asked  him  about  the  men  that  he  had  raised  ;  he  said  he 
had  sent  them  to  General  Sumpter,  and  that  he  would  send 
every  other  man  of  the  regiment  that  he  could  recruit,  to 
him,  notwithstanding  they  were  ordered  other  ways.  He 
damned  himself  if  he  would  serve  under  any  officer  but 
ivhom  he  pleased ;  that  he  disregarded  any  orders  that 
might  be  issued  to. the  contrary.  As  soon  as  I  received 
your  orders,  I  ordered  my  men  to  have  half  of  their  men 
in  readiness  to  join  you,  by  a  certain  time.  Just  as  they 
were  ready  to  march,  the  said  Lyons  immediately  impressed 
several  of  their  horses,  and  sent  them  off,  which  prevents 
many  of  them  coming  to  you,  and  the  scarcity  of  horses  at 
this  time  and  place,  prevents  their  being  replaced. 

"  I  should  be  glad  to  know  what  method  you  would  have 
me  to  take  with  such  persons.  I  shall  endeaA'or  to  send 
some  few  men  on  to  you  as  soon  as  horses  can  be  had,  as 
we  are  obliged  to  stop  ploughs  to  get  horses  at  this  time  to 
do  patrol  duty.  We  have  no  news,  only  of  a  party  of 
Tories,  who  have  been  in  Captain  Murpliy^s  company,  com- 
manded by  a  Captain  John  Brockington. 
'^  I  am,  dear  Sir, 

"  Your  most  humble  Servant, 

"Abel  Kolb/'^ 

General  Marion  wrote  to  General  Sumpter  immediately, 
and  in  reply.  General  Sumpter  said  : — "  You  gave  your 
opinion  in  that  [a  previous  letter] ,  it  is  true,  with  respect  to 
raising  troops  upon  the  State  establishment,  which  opinion 
it  appears  you  have  resumed,  not  from  the  ill  policy  of  the 


*  Gibbes's  "  Documentary  History,"  1781-72,  pp.  54,  55. 


HISTORY    OF   THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  357 

measure,  but  because  Major  Snipes  might  have  disobliged 
you.  ^Vhcther  he  gave  a  cause  of  umbrage  I  kuow  uot ; 
he  was  acting  by  no  particular  direction  of  me.  If  he  has 
transgressed,  he  is  amenable,  and  may,  as  an  officer,  be 
punished  with  great  propriety,  notwithstanding  there  is 
neither  executive  nor  legislative  body  in  the  State ;  yet  I 
think  their  powers  exist,  and  whoever  denies  it  is  dilating 
the  almost  mortal  wound  our  laws  have  received,  and 
directly  admits  what  Major  Snipes  may  have  done  to  be 
just,  or  that  what  he  prevented  another  from  doing,  was 
unjust.  I  revere  the  citizen  who  is  tenacious  of  the  laws 
of  his  country.  I  lament  their  being  so  much  abused.  If 
I  have  done  it,  I  think  myself  accountable,  and  shall  no 
doubt  be  called  upon  by  the  gentleman  to  whom  you  say 
you  shall  represent  the  matter ;  and  if  he  is  unacquainted 
with  my  motives  and  the  step  I  have  taken,  should  be  happy 
to  have  his  opinion  upon  that  head.  To  his  judgment  and 
authority,  I  pay  the  greatest  respect ;  but  I  have  not  a 
doubt  but  that  he  and  all  impartial  men,  will  applaud  an 
undertaking  which  promised  so  much  good  to  the  United 
States,  and  this  in  particular ;  especially  as  it  was  the  last 
and  only  measure  that  could  be  adopted  for  its  security,  or 
possession  of  even  the  least  part  of  it.  As  to  the  powers 
by  which  I  act,  they  ought  not  to  be  called  in  question  by 
any  man,  until  gentlemen  whom  it  might  concern  had  used 
proper  means  to  obtain  information.^'''^  Here  the  discus- 
sion of  the  matter  appears  to  have  dropped.  Even  before 
these  lines  of  General  Sumpter  were  penned.  Col.  Kolb  was 
no  longer  among  the  living.  One  of  those  bloody  acts  of 
the  Tories,  so  characteristic  of  this  period,  led  to  a  series  of 
retaliations  on  the  part  of  the  Whigs,  which  ended  in  a 
mournful  catastrophe  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  Pedee. 

A  party  of  W-higs,  shortly  before  this,  went  out  in  search 
of  a  noted  band  of  Tories  who  were  known  to  occupy  a 
stronghold  in  the  swamp  of  the  Three  Creeks,  from  which 
frequent  incursions  had  been  made  into  the  river  settlements. 
At  that  time,  the  swamp  was  an  almost  impenetrable 
morass^   rendering  it   a   secure    retreat    for  such  outlaws. 


*  Gibbes's  «  Documentary  History,"  1781-82,  pp.  64,  65. 


358  HISTORY  OF  THE   OLD   CHERAWS. 

Upon  approaching  its  border^  the  Whigs  remained  quiet  for 
some  time^  hoping  to  discover  some  sign  of  the  enemy  ;  but 
in  vain.  To  penetrate  it  in  a  body,  not  knowing  the  exact 
location  of  the  Tory  camp,  would  have  been  a  most  hazard- 
ous undertaking.  They  were  at  a  loss  what  to  do,  and  as 
painfully  impressed  with  the  necessity  of  striking  an  effec- 
tive blow.  At  length,  after  a  tedious  delay,  one  of  their 
number,  Harry  Sparks,  noted  for  his  activity  and  courage, 
volunteered  to  go  in  alone  and  bring  back  a  speedy  report 
to  his  companions.  He  succeeded  in  reaching  the  camp;* 
and  after  a  careful  inspection,  was  in  the  act  of  retreating, 
when  he  was  discovered  and  captured.  His  protracted  ab- 
sence excited  alarm,  and  at  length,  becoming  desperate  at 
the  thought  of  Sparks^  fate,  the  whole  party  dashed  into 
the  swamp  together,  determined  to  rescue  him,  if  alive,  or 
perish  in  the  attempt. 

Following  his  trail,  they  succeeded  without  difficulty  in 
reaching  the  spot,  and  there  found  the  camp  deserted,  and, 
to  their  horror,  the  lifeless  body  of  their  comrade  hanging 
from  a  tree.  A  cry  went  up  for  vengeance,  and  not  long 
after  retribution  came.  Captain  Daniel  Sparks,  a  brother 
of  Harry,  succeeded  in  capturing  subsequently  one  of  the 
ringleaders  of  the  Tory  gang.  Upon  being  charged  with 
the  act,  which  he  promptly  acknowledged,  Captain  Sparks 
told  him  he  should  be  hung.  "  Very  well,^^  said  the  un- 
daunted fellow,  "  as  soon  as  you  please.'^ 

Sparks  ordered  his  men  to  proceed  with  the  execution 
of  the  prisoner,  who  assisted  with  apparent  cheerfulness  in 
adjusting  the  rope  about  his  neck,  sprang  on  the  back  of 
the  horse  brought  to  elevate  him  from  the  ground,  asked  if 
the  rope  was  well  secured  to  the  limb,  and  upon  being  told 
it  was,  kicked  the  horse,  making  him  move  suddenly  from 
under  him,  and  swung  off  into  eternity  with  an  oath  upon 
his  lips.  After  hanging  Sparks,  the  Tories  fled,  fearing  the 
proximity  of  a  large  and  hostile  party,  well  knowing  that 
instant  pursuit  would  be  made.  They  were  followed  with- 
out delay  by  Col.  Kolb,  in  command   of  a   chosen   band. 


*  The  locality  of  this  once  celebrated  hiding  place  is  now  pointed  out  near 
the  "  Mineral  Spring "  in  Marlborough  District,  seven  miles  below  Beunetts- 
ville,  a  favourite  resort  of  some  of  the  planters  of  the  neighbourhood. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CllERAWS.  359 

among  whom  were  James  Gillespie  and  Josiali  Cantey,  and 
were  overtaken  on  Drowning  Creek^  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  a  famous  Tory  rendezvous.  On  their  way,  while  passing 
a  house  a  short  distance  from  the  road,  Cantey  rode  up  te 
inspect  the  premises.  As  he  approached,  a  large  mulatto, 
a  noted  outlaw,  left  the  house,  and  mounting  his  pony, 
started  S^i^  full  speed.  Soon  overtaking  him,  Cantey 
rather  jokrJ^v-  said  he  would  shoot  him  if  he  did  not  stop. 
"Without  slackeliiug  his  pace,  the  fellow  discharged  his  gun 
at  Cantey,  who  was  partially  in  the  rear,  striking  him  in 
the  breast.  Cantey  fell  from  his  horse,  and  as  others  of 
the  party  came  up,  exclaimed,  "  I  am  mortally  wounded.^' 
It  proved,  however,  to  be  nothing  serious.  The  mulatto 
was  at  once  overtaken  and  shot.  Another  like  him  was 
soon  after  despatched.  The  expedition  ended  in  a  general 
rout  of  the  Tories,  but  nothing  more. 

Soon  after  his  return  from  Drowning  Creek,  Colonel 
Kolb  went  down  the  river  on  the  east  side,  to  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Cat  Fish,  with  a  more  formidable  party.  Major 
Lemuel  Benton,  Capt.  Joseph  Dabbs,  and  John  Coxe  were 
among  the  number  who  accompanied  him.  Some  daring 
outrages  had  been  committed  in  this  quarter,  and  it  was 
necessary  to  proceed  with  a  strong  and  well-organized 
body. 

Nothing  of  importance  occurred  until  they  reached  Hu- 
lin^s  INIill.*  Here  they  surprised  two  notorious  Tories,  John 
Deer  and  Osburn  Lean.  The  latter  was  shot  in  attempting 
to  make  his  escape  into  Cat  Fish  Swamp,  and  got  off  with  a 
broken  arm.  Deer  was  overtaken  as  he  reached  the  swamp, 
and  killed.  It  was  on  this  occasion,  or  shortly  before,  that 
Caleb  Williams,  a  desperate  marauder,  noted  especially  for 
house  burning,  was  taken  by  Kolb's  party  and  hung.  After 
proceeding  further,  capturing  other  guilty  parties,  and 
punishing  or  discharging  them  on  promise  of  good  behaviour. 
Colonel  Kolb  returned  home,  and  dismissed  his  party,  feel- 
ing secure  for  a  time  at  least  in  the  thought  that  the  Tories 


*  This  was  the  site  of  the  mill  owned  by  the  late  Joseph  Bass,  ten  or  twelve 
miles  above  Marion,  C.  H.  Hulin  was  a  neutral  character.  Many  persons, 
actuated  by  politic  motives,  found  it  to  their  interest  to  take  such  a  position. 
They  were  generally  Loyalists  at  heart. 


360 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


had  been  overawed,  and  would  not  soon  renew  their  depre- 
dations. In  this,  however,  he  was  most  sadly  deceived.  It 
was  natural  that  such  acts  of  retaliation  on  the  part  of  the 
Whigs  should  excite  a  desperate  spirit  of  revenge  in  the 
Tories.  In  this  instance  their  fury  was  directed  chiefly 
against  Colonel  Kolb,  who  had  rendered  himself  most  ob- 
noxious by  his  repeated  successes  in  capturing  antjg^  anishing 
some  of  their  most  active  and  notable  mer^^  -And  they 
were  particularly  excited  against  him,  now  tuat  his  path  in 
the  late  expedition  had  been  marked  by  the  blood  of  several 
of  their  favourite  comj)anions.  Nothing,  as  subsequently 
appeared,  was  to  satisfy  them  short  of  his  life.  No  sooner 
had  he  departed  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Cat  Fish,  than 
a  plan  was  set  on  foot  to  surprise  him  in  the  bosom  of  his 
family,  and  put  him  to  death.  Knowing  that  his  men 
would  be  disbanded  for  a  short  time  after  his  return,  they 
determined  to  follow  on  without  delay,  and  make  sure  of 
their  prey. 

Accordingly,  a  company  of  about  fifty  Tories  collected  at 
the  place  now  known  as  Tart^s  Mill,  six  miles  above  Marion 
Court  House. 

Their  leader  was  Captain  Joseph  Jones,"^  a  native  of  that 
neighbourhood.  No  time  was  to  be  lost.  The  more  rapid 
their  movements,  the  more  certain  would  be  the  surprise. 
A  few  hours'  hard  riding  would  take  them  to  the  object  of 
their  revenge,  about  thirty-four  miles  distant.  It  was  ar- 
ranged that  they  should  reach  Colonel  Kolb's  at  a  late  hour 
of  the  night. 

Riding  up  rapidly  under  cover  of  darkness,  the  surprise 
was  complete.  The  high  qualities  of  the  gallant  Kolb,  sud- 
denly roused  from  sleep,  with  his  loved  ones  around  him,, 
and  a  brutal  foe  thirsting  for  blood  at  his  door,  were  now 
to  be  put  upon  their  last  and  severest  trial.  His  family 
consisted  of  Mrs.  Kolb,  an  only  daughter,t  then   a  child. 


*  James,  in  his  "  Life  of  Marion,"  speaks  of  Gibson  and  his  party  as  having 
gone  on  this  occasion  against  Colonel  Kolb.  Gibson  may  have  been  a  pro- 
minent character  in  connexion  with  the  affair,  but  Jones  was  unquestionably 
the  acting  captain  of  the  Toi-y  party. 

f  The  late  Mrs.  Anne  J.  Pouncey,  wife  of  Major  James  Pouncey,  of  Marl- 
borough, then  but  eight  years  old. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  361 

and  two  sisters.^  Two  young  mcn^  Evaus^,  were  also  Avith 
the  family.  They  had  probably  accompanied  the  colonel 
on  his  late  expedition,  and  were  members  of  his  staff.  The 
house  was  well  secured,  and  the  inmates  doubly  armed.  Well 
knowing  the  bloody  purpose  and  desperate  character  of  the 
foe,  Colonel  Kolb's  first  impulse  was  to  sell  his  life  as 
dearly  as  possible.  A  determined  resistance  was  accordingly 
made,  thcjs'^J'h  in  the  face  of  overpowering  numbers,  and 
as  some  accounts  represent,  but  incorrectly  perhaps,  several 
of  the  Tory  party  were  killed.  Not  knowing  the  number 
within,  and  excited  to  desperation  by  the  resistance  offered, 
if  not  the  havoc  made  in  their  ranks,  the  Tories  threatened 
to  burn  the  dwelling  with  its  inmates,  if  Colonel  Kolb  did 
not  at  once  surrender.  It  is  said  by  one  authority,  the 
house  was  actually  fired.  Ucduced  to  the  last  extremity, 
and  moved  by  the  entreaties  of  the  ladies,  whose  consterna- 
tion must  have  been  great,  the  colonel  agreed  to  deliver 
himself  up  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  The  proposition  was  ac- 
cepted; and  he  went  forth,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
sisters,  and  when  almost  in  the  act  of  presenting  his  sword, 
was  treacherously  shot  on  the  spot.  This  deed  was  perpe- 
trated, without  the  captain's  orders,  by  Mike  Goings,  a  pri- 
vate in  the  Tory  ranks.  On  some  former  occasion.  Colonel 
Kolb  had  excited  this  man's  special  hostility,  and  hence  his 
perfidious  revenge.  Thomas  Evans,  upon  this  murderous 
breach  of  faith,  attempted  to  escape,  but  was  shot,  and  died 
soon  after  from  the  eflFect  of  the  wound.f  The  dwelling  was 
then  plundered,J  and  after  setting  it  on  fire,  the  Tories  made 
a  hasty  retreat. 

Between  the  dwelling  of  Colonel  Kolb  and  the  ferry,  a 
few  hundred  yards  below,  stood  a  block  house  which  had 
been   erected   by  the  Whigs  for   the   safe   keeping   of  their 


*  These  sisters  were  Ann  James,  who  married  Joshua  Edwards,  and  Sarah 
who  married  Evander  M'lver,  as  heretofore  stated. 

f  Thomas  Evans  succeeded  in  reaching  a  house  on  Spot  Mill  Creek  (on  the 
west  side  of  the  river),  near  a  point  where  it  is  now  crossed  by  the  Cheraw  and 
Darlington  R.  R.,  and  died  a  few  days  after.  Some  authorities  state  that 
another  person  named  Evans,  a  brother  probably,  was  shot  on  the  spot  and 
killed. 

J  John  Jones,  a  brother  of  the  Tory  captain,  was  seen  on  the  return  of  the 
party,  as  they  passed  old  John  Bethea's,  riding  Colonel  Kolb's  horse  and  saddle, 
with  a  feather  bed  tied  before  him. 


362  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

prisoners.  It  was  called  the  "  Bull  Pen."  On  this  occasion 
a  number  were  confined  within  its  walls,  among  them  two 
British  officers,  and  several  soldiers.  Simultaneously  with 
the  assault  on  Colonel  Kolb,  the  small  guard  which  kept 
watch  at  the  "  Bull  Pen''''  were  surprised,  and  the  prisoners 
turned  loose.  Two  of  the  soldiers,  on  their  release,  went 
down  the  river  to  the  residence  of  old  Mrs.  Wilds,  opposite 
Long  Bluff,  in  search  of  the  treasure,  which  by  some  means 
they  had  learned  she  kept  on  her  person.  Finding  her  unpro- 
tected, they  made  a  rude  search  and  took  her  gold  away. 
At  this  stage  in  the  history  of  this  calamitous  day,  the 
thrilling  narrative  of  an  eye-witness  continues  the  story. 
Lewis  Malone  Ayer,"^  the  second  son  of  Thomas  Ayer,  of 
Hunt^s  Bluff,  then  a  lad  of  twelve  or  thirteen  years  of  age, 
was  on  a  visit  with  his  mother  to  the  family  of  John  Downes, 
a  brother-in-law,  who  lived  about  three  miles  above  Colonel 
Kolb's  on  the  river.  Mr.  Downes  having  died  in  the  course 
of  the  night,  young  Ayer  was  despatched  at  an  early  hour 
in  the  morning  to  inform  the  colonel  of  the  sad  event. 

He  had  proceeded  about  half  way,  when  he  was  startled 
by  the  firing  of  guns  in  the  direction  of  Col.  Kolb's  resi- 
dence. Upon  going  a  short  distance  further,  and  alarmed 
at  the  unusual  sounds  he  had  heard,  he  saw  an  old  man, 
William  Forniss,  riding  out  from  his  house  to  the  road. 
They  were  well  acquainted ;  and  upon  coming  up,  he  ac- 
costed the  youth  in  an  excited,  hurried  manner,  saying, 
"  Lewis,  what  firing  of  guns  was  that  a  while  ago  ?"  Ayer 
replied,  "  I  do  not  know ;''  and  just  then,  upon  looking  in 
that  direction,  they  saw  Colonel  Kolb's  residence  in  flames. 
Young  Ayer  then  related  the  errand  on  which  he  was  going, 
and  the  old  man  replied,  '^  Come  along,  let  us  go  and  see 
what  is  to  pay  there.      I  will  not  lead  you  into  danger." 

On  approaching  the  path  which  led  out  from  Colonel 
Kolb's  to  the  main  Welch  Neck  road  down  the  river,  they 
saw,  from  a  number  of  fresh  tracts,  that  a  company  of  horse- 
men had  passed  rapidly  on  but  a  short  time  before.  "  Who- 
ever they  are,"  said  Forniss,  "  they  are  gone,  and  we  may 


*  The  venerable  Lewis  Malone  Ayer,  of  Barnwell,  to  whom  reference  has 
already  been  made. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  363 

now  approacli  without  fear/'  Upon  riding  up,  a  mournful 
spectacle  was  presented  to  their  view.  The  dwelling  was 
enveloped  in  flames,  and  about  to  tumble  in ;  and  a  short 
distance  off  were  INIrs.  Kolb  and  her  two  sisters-in-law  weep- 
ing over  their  dead. 

They  told  the  sad  story  of  the  surprise  and  resistance,  of 
the  final  capitulation  and  the  closing  scene;  and  how,  not 
satisfied  with  blood,  the  Tories  had  rifled  the  house  of  every 
valuable,  set  it  on  fire,  and  fled.  The  bleeding  corpse  the 
agonized  females  had  been  forced  to  remove  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  burning  timbers.  The  lapse  of  nearly  eighty 
years  had  not  dimmed  the  eye  of  memory  as  the  once 
youthful  Aver  looked  back  from  old  age  upon  the  shocking 
scene.  His  day's  adventures  had  now  just  begun.  Forniss, 
well  aware  of  the  danger  to  which  all  those  who  might  come 
in  the  way  of  the  retreating  Tory  party  would  be  exposed, 
informed  young  Ayer  that  a  brother-in-law  of  his  (Ayer's), 
named  M'Gee,  was  that  day  to  come  up  to  Col.  Kolb's  on 
business,  that  he  must  hasten  on,  get  around  and  ahead  of 
the  Tories,  so  as  to  intercept  M'Gee  and  apprize  him  of  the 
danger,  or  he  would  certainly  be  killed. 

The  youthful  rider  was  mounted  on  a  beautiful  animal,  a 
piebald  mare,  with  flaxen  mane  and  tail,  and  noted  for  her 
fleetness.  He  was  confident  she  could  bear  him  away  un- 
harmed from  any  pursuit  that  miglit  be  made,  having  out- 
stripped the  Tories  on  several  previous  occasions  when  they 
had  chased  him  to  effect  her  capture.  Excited  by  the  scene 
just  witnessed,  and  alarmed  at  the  prospect  of  the  imminent 
peril  to  which  M'Gee  would  be  exposed,  he  started  at  once 
on  the  hazardous  mission,  secure,  however,  in  the  watchful 
eye  above  that  guided  him,  and  the  fleetness  of  his  mare, 
which  had  often  eluded  the  pursuer  before.  After  proceed- 
ing a  short  distance,  he  met  an  old  man,  Willis  by  name, 
small  of  stature,  and  a  shoemaker  by  trade.  Willis  lived 
out  in  the  marshes,  and  being  old  and  feeble,  was  allowed 
to  occupy  ostensibly  the  position  of  a  neutral.  His  heart, 
however,  was  with  the  Whigs,  and,  as  opportunity  offered, 
he  rendered  faithful  service  to  the  cause  of  liberty.  On  this 
occasion  he  rode  a  shaggy  pony,  corresponding  in  age  with 
himself,  and  carried  on  his  shoulder  an  old-fashioned,  long- 


364  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

barrelled  fowling-piece^  -vvhicli  he  affectionately  called  "  Old 
Sweet-lips/^  Upon  meeting  young  Ayer,  lie  asked  what  all 
that  shooting  was  he  had  heard  above.  In  a  few  words  the 
story  was  related  to  him^  and  that  of  the  errand  upon  which 
the  youth  had  started.  "  Very  well/^  said  he,  "  hurry  on ; 
you  will  see  two  of  the  red-coats  lying  in  the  road  ahead  of 
you.""^  His  words  proved  true,  for  a  little  further  on  the 
youth  found  two  British  soldiers  dead  in  the  road,  who  had 
bled  profusely.  They  had  paid  the  penalty  of  an  untimely 
plundering  sally  with  their  lives. 

How  the  old  man,  feeble  as  he  was,  managed  to  kill  them 
both,  he  did  not  relate.  Observing  that  their  shoe-buckles 
had  been  taken  out,  j^oung  Ayer  concluded  that  they  were 
also  stripj)ed  of  every  valuable  about  them.  Hearing  a  few 
days  after  that  old  Mrs.  Wilds  had  been  robbed  by  two  of 
the  soldiers  who  escaped  from  the  "  Bull-pen,^^  the  old  man 
went  down  to  see  her,  and  found  that  they  had  taken  from 
her  person  one  hundred  and  one  guineas,  which  she  had 
kept  for  a  long  time  concealed,  supposing  that  no  one  out 
of  her  own  immediate  family  knew  anything  of  it.  Willis 
then  produced  the  package  of  coin,  which  she  recognised  as 
her  own.  On  opening  and  counting  it  out,  not  a  piece  was 
found  missing.  She  offered  a  portion  to  the  honest  reco- 
verer,  which  he  magnanimously  refused  to  receive,  saying  it 
was  hers,  and  he  was  sufficiently  rewarded  in  being  able  to 
restore  it  to  her.  From  the  spot  where  the  soldiers  had 
fallen,  young  Ayer  jDursued  his  way,  the  road  running  along 
a  ridge  flanked  on  either  side  by  swamp  or  boggy  marsh 
land.  He  hastened  on,  for  there  was  -no  time  to  be  lost. 
A  few  miles  below,  at  a  point  where  an  abrupt  turn  was 
made  by  the  road  to  avoid  the  marsh,  it  reached  the  house 
of  a  man  named  M^Daniel.  Riding  at  a  rapid  pace,  for  he 
expected  not  to  overtake  the  Tories  so  soon,  he  was  almost 
upon  them  before  he  could  rein  his  mare  in.  Some  of  the 
party  were  on  the  piazza,  but  most  of  them  within  the  house. 
He  was  immediately  discovered  and  pursued  with  a  shout, 
the  Tories  halloing  at  the  top  of  their  voices  to  the  flying 
youth  to  stop.  Several  shots  were  fired  at  him,  but  with- 
out effect,  having  been  aimed  high,  as  he  supposed,  not  to  kill 
his  mare. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  3G5 

After  wheeling  round,  young  Ayer  struck  out  of  the 
main  road  into  a  narrow  cow-path,  which  crossed  a  large 
and  very  boggy  marsh. 

It  was  so  narrow  and  obscure  that  his  pursuers  did  not 
observe  it,  though  he  knew,  being  familiar  with  the  locality, 
that  it  was  the  only  track  by  which  a  safe  crossing  could 
be  effected.  Seeing  him  dash  through,  they  attempted  to 
do  the  same,  and  by  going  directly  across,  hoped  to  get 
ahead  of  him,  as  the  path  led  around  by  an  angle.  But, 
in  this  they  were  sadly  disappointed.  For  as  he  reached 
the  opposite  ridge,  and  looked  back,  lying  close  on  the  off- 
side of  his  mare,  the  result  was  what  he  anticipated.  The 
whole  party  were  in  full  view,  riders  and  horses  floundering 
in  the  mud,  in  hopeless  confusion.  The  chase  was  at  an 
end,  the  despicable  pursuers  deeply  chagrined  to  have 
been  thus  out-witted  by  a  boy,  and  glad  to  get  back  to 
the  quarters  they  had  left.  The  flying  youth  pursued  his 
way  through  the  woods  for  several  miles,  until  he  reached 
the  road  leading  from  Pledger^s  Mill^  to  the  Welch  Neck 
road,  with  which  it  formed  a  junction  near  a  house  owned 
by  a  Mr.  Cogdell,  but  then  occupied  by  a  man  named 
Cotton.  The  Tories,  as  young  Ayer  afterwards  learned, 
supposed  his  object  was  to  pass  them  in  order  to  give  infor- 
mation of  their  coming  to  a  party  of  Col.  Miu-phy^s  men, 
then  at  Brown's  Mill,  on  Muddy  Creek,  and  whom  the 
Tories  intended  to  surprise.  They  hastened  on  therefore  at 
greater  speed,  after  the  escape  of  Ayer. 

The  latter  had  taken  a  somewhat  circuitous  route,  to 
elude  them  the  more  surely,  and  in  that  way  the  Tories  got 
ahead  of  him. 

After  leaving  M'^Daniel's,  they  wantonly  killed  a  mulatto 
man,  the  slave  of  Capt.  Daniel  Sparks,  whom  they  found  on 
the  way  ;  and  Cotton,  taken  by  surprise,  was  despatched  at 
his  house.  A  few  moments  after  they  left  Cotton's,  young 
Ayer  came  into  the  Welch  Neck  road  again,  but  knowing 
the  party  had  passed  the  point  where  M'Gee  would  enter  it, 
he  turned  off  into  the  road  by  which  the  latter  was  to  come, 
and    after   going   a   short   distance,  met    him   on   his    way. 


*  Since  kuown  as  the  Old  Saw  Mills,  in  Marlborough  District. 


366  HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

The  greater  speed  of  the  Tories  after  the  chase  of  young 
Ayer,  was  the  means  of  M'Gee  being  saved. 

The  most  of  Col.  Murphy^s  men  had  left  the  post  at 
Brown's  Mill  some  days  before. 

A  few,  however,  remained;  and  of  these,  who  were  sur- 
prised, Capt.  Joseph  Dabbs,*  a  useful  citizen  and  well-tried 
Whig,  was  killed.  Another,  Ned  Threwitts,  escaped  with  a 
bullet  in  his  shoulder. 

After  returning  from  this  bloody  expedition,  the  Tories 
dispersed,  taking  refuge,  doubtless,  for  a  time  in  their 
liidiug  places,  knowing  full  well  the  vengeance  with  which 
they  would  be  visited  by  the  Whigs.  Thus  ended  for  the 
region  of  the  Upper  Pedee,  the  28th  of  April,  1781,  one  of 
the  saddest  days  in  its  history.  The  leader,  to  whom  all 
eyes  had  proudly  looked,  was  no  more.  Cut  off  in  the 
prime  of  his  manhood  and  in  the  midst  of  a  career  of  use- 
fulness for  his  country,  before  his  noble  qualities  had  yet 
been  fully  developed,  he  would  doubtless  have  reached  much 
higher  distinction  as  a  partisan  leader,  had  his  life  been 
spared,  t 

He  was  a  man  of  retiring  disposition,  but  firm  and  un- 
yielding where  principle  was  involved,  decided  in  his  views, 
and  of  the  highest  order  of  courage.  His  education  was 
limited  ;  but  a  soimd  and  discriminating  mind  made  amends 
for  the  want  of  early  cultivation.  He  had  amassed  a  com- 
fortable fortune,  and  contributed  liberally  in  means  as  well 
as  personal  effort,  to  the  cause  of  independence.  In  person 
he  was  of  medium  size,  and  comely,  though  not  striking  in 
appearance.  His  death,  at  such  a  junctm-e,  was  well  cal- 
culated to  fill  the  minds  of  the  Whigs  of  Pedec  for  a  time  with 
despondency.  A  worthy  successor,  however,  was  at  hand,  to 
revive  the  public  spirit,  and  nerve  those,  who  had  already 
suffered  much,  for  other  conflicts.  His  command  devolved 
on  Major  Lemuel  Benton,  who  as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  nobly 
sustained  it  to  the  close  of  the  war.  In  a  letter  to  INIarion, 
of  the  6th  May  following,  General  Green  alluded  to  the  death 


*  Captain  Dabbs  lived  on  Crooked  Creek,  ou  lauds  near  the  site  of  the 
mill  owned  in  later  times  by  Judge  Evans. 

t  The  widow  of  Colonel  Kolb  subsequently  married  Jesse  Wilds,  a  son  of  the 
old  Mrs.  Wilds  of  whom  mention  has  been  made. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  367 

of  Col.  Kolb,  with  unaffected  sorrow.  Ramsay^  the  first 
historian  of  the  RevoUitiou  iu  Carolina,  recorded  it  briefly. 
On  the  hearts  of  his  sorrowing  countrymen,  who  knew  him 
best,  his  real  worth  was  impressed  in  characters  which  time 
could  never  efface.  Tradition  has  assigned  him  the  first 
place,  perhaps,  in  the  confidence  and  affection  of  the  people, 
among  the  military  men  of  that  day. 

Captain  Jones,*  the  leader  of  the  Tory  party  which  sur- 
prised Col.  Kolb,  was  a  man  of  some  note.  He  possessed 
a  good  property,  and  was  ingenious  to  a  remarkable 
degree.  He  is  said  to  have  made  the  first  surveyor's  com- 
pass ever  used  in  Marion  District.  Notwithstanding  his 
course  during  the  Revolution,  he  continued  to  live  on  Cat 
Fish  until  about  1802,  and  then  removed  to  Colleton  Dis- 
trict, where  he  died  not  very  many  years  since.  Old 
Willis,  the  shoemaker,  an  Irishman  by  birth,  lived  to  a 
very  advanced  age,  and  died,  where  he  had  lived,  in  the 
marshes. 

Prior  to  these  events  on  the  Pedee  the  shock  of  arms 
had  been  felt  again  in  North  Carolina.  Shortly  before  the 
battle  of  Guilford  Court  House,  after  the  two  armies  had 
approached  each  other,  and  had  some  skirmishing,  and  one 
or  two  engagements,  Lord  Cornwallis  and  General  Green 
entered  into  a  correspondence  for  the  exchange  of  prisoners 
belonging  to  the  Southern  armies.  Captain  Broderick,  who 
was  empowered  to  treat  by  the  former,  on  account  of  some 
difficulties  which  arose,  could  not  bring  the  business  to  a 
conclusion  ;  and  being  afterwards  revived,  it  was  finished  by 
Captain  Cornwallis  on  the  part  of  the  British,  and  Colonel 
Carrington  as  agent  for  the  Americans,  when  the  customary 
tariff  was  signed  and  executed.      It  was  done  at  the  house 


*  Some  years  after  the  Revolution,  Captain  Jones  was  on  his  trial  at  George- 
town for  passing  counterfeit  money.  Samuel  Wilds,  afterwards  so  distinguished, 
but  then  quite  a  young  man,  and  not  yet  at  the  Bar,  was  present,  and  proposed 
to  raise  a  company,  take  Jones  out  and  hang  him,  saying  he  deserved  to  die  for 
his  connexion  with  the  murder  of  Colonel  Kolb.  This  incident  was  related  to 
the  author  by  the  late  John  D.  Witherspoon,  of  Society  Hill.  It  seems  hardly 
in  keeping,  however,  with  that  kindness  of  heart  and  noble  generosity  for  which 
Judge  Wilds  was  so  remarkable.  He  was  young,  however,  and  the  feeling 
yet  intense  against  the  Tories.  Mr.  W.  also  stated  that  he  once  spent  the  night 
with  Kirby,  the  murderer  of  Joseph  Dabbs. 


368  HISTOKY   OF   THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

of  Claudius  Pegues,  on  Pedee,  May  3rd,  1781.^  The  de- 
clining fortunes  of  Cornwallis,  after  the  battle  of  Guilford, 
as  related  by  Tarleton,  is  a  sad  story.  It  touches  the 
heart  even  now  to  look  back  upon  the  scene,  and  contem- 
plate the  agonizing  trials  as  he  went  down,  of  one  who  was 
actuated  by  generous  impulses  and  sentiments  of  patriotic 
devotion  to  his  king  and  country.  After  the  close  of  the 
winter  campaign  in  North  Carolina,  Cornwallis  withdrew 
his  forces  into  South  Carolina,  followed  by  Green.  Soon 
after  he  advanced  to  Cross  Creek,  and  then  to  Wilmington. 
"  The  aspect  of  affairs  at  this  juncture,^^  said  Tarleton,  "  pre- 
sented various  and  opposite  designs  to  the  noble  earl  at 
Wilmington.  Upon  the  different  investigations  of  the 
subject  it  was  too  successfully  described,  that  the  country 
between  Cape  Pear  River  and  Camden  was  barren,  and 
intersected  with  creeks  and  rivers ;  that  the  road  to  George- 
town was  replete  with  the  same  difficulties,  that  an  embark- 
ation for  Charles-town  was  disgraceful,  and  would  occasion 
delay  whilst  the  transports  were  coming  round  ;  and  that 
Virginia  was  more  accessible,  where  Gen.  Phillips  com- 
manded a  respectable  force."t  The  noble  earl  was  evidently 
looking  with  wistful  eye  toward  South  Carolina.  There  he 
had  fondly  hoped  to  maintain  undisputed  sway,  and  it  was 
hard  to  give  up  the  cherished  design. 

"  Hearing  of  Green's  approach,  Lord  Rawdon,  who  com- 
manded the  frontiers  of  South  Carolina,  was  greatly  alarmed, 
fearing  a  total  defection  of  the  inhabitants,  an  interruption 
of  all  communication  with  Charles-town,  and  the  attack  of 
a  continental  army,  superior  to  his  own  in  numbers.^' 
"  Though  the  expresses  from  Cross  Creek  did  not  reach  their 
destination,  he  gained  by  some  other  means  such  early  in- 
telligence of  the  approach  of  Green,  that  he  made  judicious 
arrangements  to  counteract  the  designs  of  the  enemy,  and 
to  advertize  Earl  Cornwallis  of  his  embarrassed  situation  at 
Camden.^'  His  leader,  however,  could  render  Rawdon  no 
assistance.  The  unhappy  earl  was  himself  in  a  position  of 
the  most  trying  embarrassment.      He  knew  not  where   to 


*  Moultrie's  "  Memoirs,"  vol.  i.  p.  178. 
t  Tarletou's  "  Memoirs,"  p.  283. 


HIbTOHY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  3G9 

look    for   reviving    prospects.     On    23rd  of  April   lie  wrote 
from  "Wilmington  to  Lord  George  Germaine,  as  follows: — 
"  Altliougli  the  expresses  I  sent  from  Cross  Creek  to  inform 
Lord  KaAvdon  of  the  necessity  I  was   under  of  coming  to 
this   place,   and  to  Avarn  him  of  the  possibility  of  sucli  an 
attempt  of  the  enemy,  had   all  miscarried,  yet  his  lordship 
was  lucky  enougli  to  be  apprized  of  Gen.  Greenes  approach, 
at  least  six  days   before  he  could  possibly  reach  Camden ; 
and  I  am  therefore  still  induced  to  hope,   from  my  opinion 
of  his  lordship''s  abilities,  and  the  precautions  taken  by  him 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Balfour,  that  we  shall  not  be  so  unfor- 
tunate as  to  lose  any  considerable  corps.      The  distance  from 
hence  to  Camden,  the  want  of  forage  and  subsistence  on  the 
greatest  part  of  the  road,  and  the  difficulty  of  passing  the 
Pedee,  when  opposed  by  an  enemy,  render  it  utterly  impos- 
sible for  me  to  give  immediate  assistance,  and  I  apprehend 
a  possibility  of  the  utmost  hazard  to  this  little  corps,  without 
the  chance  of  a   benefit  in    the    attempt ;  for,  if  we  are  so 
unlucky  as  to  suffer  a  severe  blow  in  South  Carolina,  the 
spirit  of  revolt  in  that  ProAdnce  would  become  very  general, 
and  the  numerous  rebels  in  this  Province  be  encouraged  to 
be  more  than  ever  active  and  violent.      This  might  enable 
General  Green  to  hem  me  in  among  the  great  rivers,  and, 
by  cutting  off  our  subsistence,  render  our  arms  useless;   and 
to  remain  here  for  transports    to    carry   us    off  would   be  a 
work  of  time,  would  lose  our  cavalry,   and  would  be  other- 
wise as  ruinous  and  disgraceful  to   Britain,   as  most  events 
could  be.     I  have,  therefore,  under  so  many  embarrassing 
circumstances  (but  looking  upon  Charles-town  as  safe  from 
any  immediate  attack  from  the  rebels),  resolved  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  General    Greenes  having  left   the  back  parts  of 
Virginia  open,  and  march  immediately  into  that  Province, 
to  attempt   a  junction   wdth   Gen.    Phillips.''^^'     Broken    in 
spirit,  threatened  on    all   sides,   knowing   from  recent  expe- 
rience the  strength  of  Green,  and  fearing  him  as  an  antago- 
nist, Cornwallis,  in  his  desperate  extremity,  decided  upon  a 
step  which  soon  led   to   his  ruin.      He   was  evidently  afraid 
to   risk  a  passage    thi'ough   the   country   bordering   on    the 


Tarleton's  "  Meiuoii-d/'  pp.  325,  326. 

B   B 


370  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Pedee.  For  the  same  expresses  which  had  brought  him  the 
disagreeable  news  alluded  to  in  the  opening  of  the  foregoing 
extract,  also  informed  him  "  that  the  upper  parts  of  South 
Carolina  were  in  the  most  imminent  danger  from  an  alarm- 
ing spirit  of  revolt  among  many  of  the  people.'^  His  star 
was  now  on  the  wane,  and  soon  to  go  down.  His  favorite 
legion  leader  thus  commented  on  the  earFs  resolution  to  go 
to  Virginia.  "  Happy  would  it  have  been,  as  far  as  general 
probability  can  be  determined,  had  Earl  Cornwallis  directed 
his  chief  attention  to  the  critical  state  of  South  Carolina, 
and  commenced  his  return  by  any  route  to  secure  it.^^ 

On  the  24th  of  April,  Cornwallis  wrote  thus  to  Gen. 
Phillips  : — "  My  situation  here  is  very  distressing.  Green 
took  the  advantage  of  my  being  obliged  to  come  to  this 
place,  and  has  marched  to  South  Carolina.  My  expresses 
to  Lord  Rawdon,  on  my  leaving  Cross  Creek,  warning  him 
of  the  impossibility  of  such  a  movement,  have  all  failed ; 
mountaineers  and  militia  have  poured  into  the  back  parts 
of  this  Province,  and  I  much  fear  that  Lord  Rawdon^s  posts 
will  be  so  distant  from  each  other,  and  his  troops  so  scat- 
tered, as  to  put  him  into  the  greatest  danger  of  being  beat 
in  detail,  and  that  the  worst  of  consequences  may  happen  to 
most  of  the  troops  out  of  Charles-town. 

"  By  a  direct  move  towards  Camden,  I  cannot  get  time 
enough  to  relieve  Lord  llawdon  ;  and,  should  he  have  fallen, 
my  army  would  be  exposed  to  the  utmost  danger  from  the 
great  rivers  I  should  have  to  pass,  the  exhausted  state  of 
the  country,  the  numerous  militia,  the  almost  universal  spirit 
of  revolt  which  prevails  in  South  Carolina,  and  the  strength 
of  Greenes  army,  whose  continentals  alone  are  at  least  as 
numerous  as  I  am ;  and  I  could  be  of  no  use  on  my  arrival 
at  Charles-town,  there  being  nothing  to  apprehend  at  present 
for  that  post;  I  shall,  therefore,  immediately  march  up  the 
country  by  Duplin  Court  House,  pointing  towards  Hills- 
borough, in  hope  to  withdraw  Green  ;  if  that  should  not 
succeed,  I  should  be  much  tempted  to  form  a  junction  with 
you.'' 

The  stratagem  as  to  Green  failed  most  signally,  and 
Virginia  became  the  theatre  of  Cornwallis's  final  overthrow. 

The  partisan  warfare  on  the  Pedee  continued  now  to^ge 


HISTORY    OF  THE   OLD    CHEUAWS.  371 

witli  uuabatecl  fury.  Colouel  Beutou^  wise  in  counsel  and 
efficient  in  action^  possessed  of  those  peculiar  qualities  calcu- 
lated to  inspire  confidence  in  all  who  were  associated  with 
him^  or  under  his  command,  was  equal  to  the  trying  emer- 
gencies of  his  position.  Colonel  Murphy,  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  river  below,  Mas  battling  valiantly  ;  while  Major 
Thomas,  and  the  Captains  Sparks,  Pledger,  Council,  M'^Intosh, 
Ellerbe,  Pegues,  Jackson,  and  others,  on  both  sides  of  the 
river,  were  doing  gallant  service  for  their  country.  A  strong- 
guard  had  been  placed  at  Kolb's  Ferry,  an  important  point 
on  the  river,  under  command  of  Captain  Edward  Jones,* 
and  continued  there  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  "  Bull  Pen,^'  which  stood  very  near  the  Ferry,  an- 
swered the  purposes  of  a  substantial  prison  house.  It  was 
often  in  use.  A  stockade  was  also  erected  at  the  gaolf  on 
Long  Bluft*,  and  a  guard  kept  there  as  occasion  demanded. 

In  a  letter  to  Marion,  of  May  1st,  Gen.  Green  cautioned 
him  to  keep  a  good  look-out  for  Tarleton,  saying : — 
''  I  think  it  probable  he  is  in  the  George-town  route ;  but 
it  is  possible  he  may  be  on  the  upper  route,  as  I  hear  of  a 
guard  being  lately  surprised  near  the  Cheraws.^^J  Gen. 
Sumpter  was  then  at  the  Congarees,  M^Arthur  on  his  way 
to  Camden,  and  the  gallant  Lafayette,  with  a  large  detach- 
ment from  the  Northern  Army  and  Pennsylvania  line,  on 
the  march  to  join  the  Southern  forces. 

Mr.  Pugh's  Journal  contains  a  few  brief  entries  at  this 
period : — 

"  Tuesday,  17tli  of  April.  Had  news  of  the  Tories  in 
Cashway. 


*  The  following  was  one  of  many  accounts  rendered  in  after  the  war ; — 
"  State  of  South  Carolina. 

"  March  3rd,  1781.     Received  of  Wm.  Dewitt,  480  lbs.  of  pork  for  use  ot 
guard  at  Kolb's  Ferry. 

"  Edwaed  Jones, 

"  Captain  of  Guard." 
f  "  State  of  South  Carolina,  Cheraw  District. 

"  This  may  certify  that  William  Dewitt,  Esq.,  furnished  ^  guard  of  my  regt., 
at  the  Cheraw  Gaol,  with  2  hogs,  12G  lbs. 

"  Lem.  Benton, 
"  Lieut. -Colon el  Commandant  of  Militia. 
«  20th  Deer.,  1782." 

X  Gibbes's  "  Documentary  History,"  1781-82,  p.  fiG. 

B   B   2 


372  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

"  Saturday,  28th. .  Went  to  the  Mill.  Col.  Kolb  is 
killed,  and  6  or  7  men  by  the  Tories. 

"  Friday,  May  4th.  All  the  men  come  home  from  Gen, 
Marion's  camp. 

"Tuesday,  15th.  We  hear  Camden  is  burnt.  British 
gone.^^ 

The  report  of  six  or  seven  men  killed,  besides  Col.  Kolb, 
if  it  was  true,  must  have  included  others  who  were  murdered 
by  the  Tory  party  on  their  return  down  the  river. 

In  August  of  this  year.  Colonel  Murphy  was  stationed, 
with  a  small  force,  near  the  mouth  of  Black  Creek.  He 
sent  word  to  old  Moses  Bass,  who  kept  a  noted  public-house 
at  the  mill  on  Naked  Creek,  across  the  river  and  about  fovir 
miles  distant,  that  he  would  be  there  with  his  men  on  a  cer- 
tain day,  and  to  have  a  good  dinner,  with  plenty  of  cider, 
in  readiness.  By  some  means,  the  Tories  in  the  neighbour- 
hood were  informed  of  the  expected  visit,  and  made  prepa- 
rations for  attacking  Murphy  at  Basses.  The  house  stood 
on  a  small  island,  made  by  a  sudden  bend  of  the  creek, 
forming  almost  a  circle,  and  a  canal  cut  across  the  neck  of 
land  leading  out  to  the  main  road  near  by. 

On  the  appointed  day,  Murj)liy  and  his  party  went  over, 
suspecting  no  danger. 

While  at  dinner,  they  were  suddenly  surprised  by  the 
enemy^s  approach.  Two  men  came  rapidly  up  on  horseback, 
and  were  in  the  act  of  crossing  the  creek  by  a  causeway  when 
first  discovered.  They  were  followed  by  the  main  body, 
under  Major  Barfield. 

Some  of  the  Whigs,  who  happened  to  be  on  the  piazza, 
were  fired  upon,  and  for  a  moment  all  was  confusion.  By 
this  time,  the  Tories  had  approached  within  fighting  distance, 
and  the  conflict  began. 

The  Whigs  having  the  benefit  of  a  cover,  soon  gained  a 
decided  advantage,  killing  several  of  the  enemy,  with  the 
loss,  however,  of  two  of  their  own  number.  Harper  and 
Mixon.  Giving  way  under  the  effective  fire  from  the  house, 
the  Tories  were  in  the  act  of  retreating,  when  one  of  Murphy^s 
men,  named  Daniel,  who  had  a  stentorian  voice,  cried  out, 
"  Good  Heavens  !  what  shall  we  do  ?  the  powder  is  out." 
Upon  hearing  this,  the  Tories  returned  to  the  fight ;  and  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  373 

Whigs,  no  longer  able  to  keep  up  an  equal  fire,  were  forced 
to  escape  in  every  direction  across  the  creek,  to  the  cover 
of  the  thick  timber  beyond.  It  ran  but  a  short  distance 
in  tlie  rear  of  the  dwelling.  Reaching  it  by  a  few  bounds, 
they  tumbled  down  the  steep  bank,  and  got  off  without  fur- 
ther loss. 

One  of  their  number,  a  man  named  Thompson,  from  the 
Poke  Swamp  settlement,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  as  he 
jumped  the  fence  near  the  creek,  found  a  large  and  powerful 
mulatto,  Shoemake  by  name,  pressing  closely  upon  him, 
with  his  rifle  aimed  and  in  the  act  of  firing.  Happily  for 
Thompson,  the  rifle  missed  fire,  and  before  it  could  be  re- 
adjusted, he  made  his  escape.  Twenty  years  after,  Thomp- 
son heard  of  Shoemakers  going  to  Camden,  caught  him  on 
his  return,  and  inflicted  severe  punishment.  Peter  Boze- 
man,  a  valiant  soldier  of  liberty,  who  afterwards  settled  and 
died  in  Darlington  District,  was  one  of  Murphy's  party. 

Malachi  Murphy  was  another,  and  received  a  wound  in 
the  shoulder  as  he  reached  the  creek,  which  disabled  him  for 
the  time.  He  fell  down  the  bank,  and  crawling  under  a 
large  log,  remained  there  undiscovered,  though  the  Tories 
several  times  passed  near  him.  Daniel,  Avhose  unfortunate 
exclamation  led  to  the  disaster,  was  a  man  of  powerful  frame, 
and  carried  Murphy  on  his  shoulders  to  Black  Creek,  making 
some  amends  thereby  for  his  untimely  blunder. 

Thus  ended  their  day^s  frolic  for  the  Whigs,  teaching  them 
the  lesson  which  so  many  have  learned  too  late,  that  vigi- 
lance is  the  price  of  liberty. 

The  civil  alfairs  of  the  country  were  now  sadly  deranged. 

No  Circuit  Court  had  been  holden  on  the  Pedee  since 
November,  1778,  nor  had  any  district  officers  been  ap- 
pointed. The  estates  of  deceased  persons  were  neglected, 
and  for  orphans  no  legal  provision  was  made.  On  the  13th 
of  August,  Governor  Rutledge  wrote  to  General  Marion,  and 
in  the  course  of  his  letter  alluded  to  this  subject.  He  said  : 
"  I  think  of  appointiug  immediately  an  ordinary  in  each 
district,  by  whom  wills  may  be  proved,  and  letters  testa- 
mentary and  administration  granted ;  and  other  business 
with  the  ordinary  jurisdiction  transacted.  The  Constitution 
directs  that  this  shall  be  done  ;  and  I  think  it  is  a  measure 


374        HISTORY  OF  THE  OLD  CHE  RAWS. 

absolutely  necessary  for  a  number  of  reasons.  I  wish  you 
would  recommend  jjroper  persons,  who  are  able  to  undertake 
the  office  of  ordinary  for  George-town^  Cheraws,  and  Charles- 
town  Districts/' 

By  proclamation  of  13th  September,  appointments  were 
made,  Claudius  Pegues  being  commissioned  ordinary  for 
Cheraws  District.  The  Royal  Gazette,  as  it  was  called,  of 
Charles-town,  made  merry  over  this  business.  On  the  3rd 
November,  it  said  :  "  The  following  proclamation,  appointing 
ordinaries  in  the  several  districts  of  the  Province,  has  been 
lately  received  from  the  country .""^  Here  followed  the  pro- 
clamation, with  these  comments  :  "  Most  of  the  persons, 
appointed  ordinaries  are  commanders  of  parties  of  rebel 
mounted  militia.  They,  and  their  followers,  have,  by  the 
murders  they  have  committed,  afforded  sufficient  business 
for  a  Court  of  Ordinary.  Mr.  Rutledge  seems  to  think  it 
but  fair  that  they  should  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  own  labor.'" 
The  time  was  not  far  distant  when  words  of  bitter  sarcasm 
were  to  be  heard  in  reply  ! 

Colonel  Murphy,  in  his  active  and  vigorous  movements, 
was  giving  much  trouble  to  Major  Gainey  and  the  Tories 
under  his  command.  The  latter  addressed  General  Marion 
on  the  subject,  as  follows  : — 

"  Pedee,  September  8th,  1781. 

"  Sir, — Your  answer  of  the  5th  of  September  came  to 
hand  this  day,  and  in  perusing  the  same,  I  understand  that 
your  honor  wrote  to  the  North  Carolinians  concerning  our 
truce,  which  I  never  received  or  heard  of  before ;  it  has  mis- 
carried by  some  means  or  other.  My  full  desire,  Sir^  is  to 
bs  at  peace  with  all  parties,  if  they  will  with  me.  I  am  very 
sorry.  Sir,  to  acquaint  your  honor  that  I  am  under  the  dis- 
agreeable necessity  of  complaining  to  you  of  Colonel  Murphy. 
I  wrote  several  orders  to  him  to  restore  their  plunder,  which 
they  refused  to  do,  except  such  as  is  of  no  service  to  them- 
selves ;  all  that  is  of  value  they  keep,  so  that  I  found  there 
a  stumbling  block.  The  way,  just  about  the  time  that 
jNIurphy  first  broke  out  and  ruined  me,  and  broke  me  up, 
for  which  reason,  I  first  revolted  my  constancy  to  my 
country,  was — he  took  some  horses  from  me,  one  of  which  he 
has  yet  in  his  possession ;  then  I  wrote  an  order,  and  sent  to 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  375 

him  for  said  horse,  Avliich  lie  reftised  to  scud,  without  I  woukl 
liunt  up  and  get  all  his  horses  which  he  has  lost,  which  was 
six  or  seven  head,  he  says  ;  and  I  dou^t  know  his  horses ; 
I  never  saw  them ;  and  in  like  manner,  they  detain  several 
horses  and  negroes,  and  a  number  of  cows. 

"  I  have  no  reason  to  complain  of  any  of  your  men,  save 
that  same  regiment  of  INIurphy's.  The  list  you  wrote  to  me 
about,  you  shall  faithfully  have  given  up  very  shortly  to 
Colonel  Irvin's  order. 

"  I  am,  with  respect.  Sir, 

"  Your  very  humble  Servant, 

"  MicAJAH  Gainey.^' 

The  truce  alluded  to  in  this  letter  ^'ew  out  of  articles  of 
agreement  concluded  on  the  17th  June  previous,  between 
Colonel  Peter  Horry,  in  behalf  of  Genei-al  Marion,  and  Major 
Gainey,  commanding  officer  of  the  Tories,  or  King's  subjects 
— inhabitants  lying  between  Great  Pedee  River  and  North 
Carolina."^  By  these  articles,  Gainey  and  his  officers  agreed 
to  lay  down  their  arms  and  remain  neutral,  to  deliver  up 
all  those  who  refused  to  comply  with  the  treaty,  and  all 
deserters  from  the  Americans,  and  also  to  restore  all  negroes 
and  other  plundered  property.  The  terms  of  the  agreement 
were  not  strictly  complied  with  by  Gainey,  and  hence  the 
course  pursued  by  Colonel  Murphy.  The  continued  non- 
observance  of  their  solemn  stipulations  led  to  a  projected  expe- 
dition in  June  of  the  next  year,  concerted  between  Governor 
Matthews,  of  South  Carolina,  and  Governor  Martin,  of 
North  Carolina,  to  subdue  Gainey  and  his  party,  who  were 
marauding  in  both  States.  General  Marion  was  to  have  the 
command  ;  and  as  soon  as  it  became  known,  it  brought 
Gainey  to  terms.  At  Burch's  Mill,  on  Pedee,  a  treaty  was 
signed  (June,  1782),  by  which  the  Tories  agreed  to  lay  down 
their  arms  as  enemies  of  the  State,  to  demean  themselves 
tliereafter  as  peaceable  citizens,  to  deliver  up  all  stolen 
property,  to  apprehend  all  who  did  not  accede  to  the 
treaty  then  made,  to  take  all  deserters  from  the  American 
army  and  deliver  them  up,  to  return  to  their  allegiance,  and 


*  Gibbes's  "  Documentary  History,"  1781-82,  p.  98, 


376  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

abjure  that  of  his  Britannic  Majesty.  From  this  treaty, 
Gibson,  who  killed  Colonel  Kolb,  and  Fanning  and  his  party, 
were  excepted,  but  they  escaped.* 

In  his  letter  to  Maiion,  Gainey  gives  a  reason  for  having 
taken  up  arms  against  his  country.  If  that  which  he  as- 
signed was  the  leading  motive,  and  was  founded  in  truth, 
it  only  proved  that,  like  others,  he  allowed  feelings  of 
resentment  against  an  individual,  to  extinguish  every 
patriotic  impulse.  But  his  heart  was  not  right  in  the 
matter,  and  an  excuse  was  readily  framed  for  his  traitorous 
course.  As  a  reward,  and  because  of  his  influence,  doubt- 
less, he  was  promoted  by  the  British  to  the  position  of 
major,  which  he  subsequently  filled.  He  lived  six  miles 
below  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Marion,  between 
Cat  Fish  and  the  river.  His  father,  Stephen  Gainey,  was 
an  Englishman,  and  emigrated  at  an  early  period  to  this 
part  of  Carolina.  In  person.  Major  Gainey  was  large  and 
powerful,  and  in  mind  above  the  ordinary  standard.  He  had 
a  respectable  property,  and  might  have  made,  if  so  disposed, 
a  most  efficient  champion  of  liberty.  He  was,  however,  a 
man  of  violent  passions  and  overbearing  disposition,  and 
before  the  Revolution,  had  made  himself  obnoxious  to  many 
of  his  neighbours.  After  the  war,  the  feeling  against  him 
Avas  so  strong,  that  he  was  compelled  to  leave,  and  removed 
to  Richmond  County,  North  Carolina.  It  is  said,  that  fifty 
years  after  the  struggle  of  the  Revolution  had  ended,  there 
were  men  in  Marion  who  would  have  killed  him  on  sight. 

An  incident  may  be  mentioned  in  connexion  with  a  mem- 
ber of  this  family,  illustrative  of  the  summary  method  of 
ending  disputes,  and  of  the  bloody  spirit  that  marked  these 
days. 

Stephen,  a  brother  of  Major  Gainey,  was  killed  by 
William  Dewitt  of  the  same  neighbourhood.  They  had 
agreed  upon  a  race  with  two  noted  steeds.  The  winner 
was  to  take  the  horse  of  his  competitor.  Gainey  won  the 
race,  and  carried  off  the  stakes.  Dewitt  claimed  and  took 
back  his  horse  with  violent  hands,  on  the  ground  of  some 
unfairness   in  the   race.       Gainey   succeeded  in   recovering 


*  James's  "  Life  of  Marion,"  pp.  123,  166. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  377 

liinij  and  at  the  same  time  took  Dewitt,  carrying  liim  bonnd 
to  Ins  bouse.  He  went  to  sleep,  leaving  his  prisoner  tied. 
Dewitt  managed  to  get  loose  (by  the  aid,  it  was  said,  of 
his  captor's  wife),  took  down  Gainey's  own  gun,  and  shot 
him  dead  on  the  spot. 

In  the  battle  of  Eutaw,  fought  on  the  8th  of  September 
of  this  year,  some  of  the  militia  from  Pedee  took  part. 
Among  them  was  Captain  Claudius  Pegucs  with  his  com- 
pany. 

Josliua  David,  a  private,  was  badly  wounded  in  the  hand, 
and  permanently  disabled.  Thomas  Quick,  also  a  private, 
a  brave  and  active  Whig,  was  a  near  neighbour  of  his  cap- 
tain, and  warmly  attached  to  him.  Before  the  battle  com- 
menced, it  was  agreed  between  them,  that  if  either  should 
be  wounded  or  killed,  the  other  would  take  special  care  of 
him.  Daring  the  engagement.  Captain  Pegues  was  wounded 
in  the  leg,  but  continued  for  some  time  to  maintain  his 
ground,  seemingly  unconscious  of  the  injury  he  had  sus- 
tained. But,  bleeding  profusely,  Quick  discovered  his  con- 
dition as  he  was  about  to  fall,  and  with  the  aid  of  Nero,  a 
faithful  body  servant  of  the  captain,  bore  him  from  the 
field.  Quick  then  requested  permission  to  return,  if  to  take 
only  one  shot  more  at  the  enemy,  and  resumed  his  place  in 
the  ranks.  Thomas  Quick  lived  many  years  after  the  war, 
and  left  a  son,  bearing  his  name,  who  was  long  a  worthy 
citizen  of  ^Marlborough  District. 

On  the  17th  of  September,  Governor  Rutledge  wrote  to 
General  Marion,  informing  him  that  Benton^s  regiment  had 
been  allotted  to  his  brigade.'^  This  position  the  regiment 
continued  to  hold  to  the  close  of  the  war.  Subsequent  re- 
cords show  that  most  of  the  militia  from  Pedee  were  more  or 
less  in  constant  service  under  Marion.  On  the  23rd"  of  No- 
vember, the  Governor  inclosed  to  General  Marion  writs  of 
election  for  INIembers  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, as  embraced  within  the  limits  of  his  brigade. 
Some  difficulty  was  felt  in  determining  upon  the  best  places 
for  holding  the  elections,  in  the  then  unsettled  state  of  the 
country.      It  was  left  by  the  Governor  to  INIarion  and  the 


*  Gibbes's  "  Documentary  History,"  1781-82,  p.  214. 


378  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

managers  appointed,  to  decide.  Tristram  Thomas,  Philip 
Pledger,  William  Dewitt,  and  William  Pegnes,  were  four  of 
the  six  representatives  elected  for  St.  David's,  and  took  their 
seats  in  the  House,  at  Jacksonborough,  on  the  18th  of  Janu- 
ary following.  On  the  30th  of  January,  John  Wilson  was 
appointed  Sheriff  for  Cheraws  District.  Owing  to  some 
accident  or  oversight,  he  did  not  receive  his  commission  for 
some  time  afterwards.  In  a  letter  to  General  Marion,  Go- 
vernor Matthews  alluded  to  the  subject,  saying,  "  I  sent 
Mr.  Wilson,  the  Sheriff  for  Cheraws,  his  commission  three 
months  ago,  and  am  surprised  to  find  he  did  not  receive  it. 
It  must  be  lying  somewhere  at  George-town;  but  if  he  can- 
not get  it,  I  will  send  him  another.  However,  his  not 
having  the  commission  need  not  prevent  him  from  acting. 
The  appointment  by  the  Legislature  is  the  substantial  part  ; 
the  commission  is  now  a  matter  of  form."^  Among  the 
matters  to  be  disposed  of  at  this  session  of  the  Legislature, 
was  that  relating  to  the  banishment  of  certain  persons,  and 
the  confiscation  of  their  estates. 

On  this  proscribed  list,  was  the  name  of  Charles  Augustus 
Steward.  While  a  bill  was  pending  on  the  subject,  the 
wife  of  Colonel  Steward  presented  the  following  petition, 
viz. : — 

"  To  the  Honorable,  the   Senate  of  the  State  of  South 

Carolina  : 
"  The  humble  petition  of  Sarah  Steward,  humbly  sheweth  : 
That  your  petitioner  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Augustus 
Steward,  of  the  District  of  Cheraws,  whose  name,  she  is 
informed,  is  inserted  in  a  list  of  persons  whose  estates  are 
to  be  confiscated,  and  themselves  to  be  banished  from  this 
State,  by  a  bill  now  before  your  Honorable  House.  Your 
petitioner  begs  leave  to  set  forth,  that  her  husband,  about  a 
year  ago,  returned  to  South  Carolina  from  Great  Britain, 
where  he  went  in  the  year  1775,  with  leave  of  the  Honor- 
able House  of  Assembly  ;  that  ever  since  the  Revolution,  he 
has  entertained  the  most  warm  and  friendly  attachment  to 
the  American  cause,  and  on  all  occasions  done  every  friendly 


Gibbes's  "Documentary  History,"  1776-82,  p.  191. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  379 

office  in  liis  power  to  relieve  American  prisoners  distressed 
in  England,  Avliicli  he  lias  the  evidence  here  to  prove.  Your 
petitioner  assures  your  Honors,  that  after  her  husband's 
arrival  in  Charles-town,  the  Commandant  oflfercd  him  a 
military  commission,  supposing,  from  his  extensive  acquaint- 
ance in  the  district  where  he  lived,  and  having  been  formerly 
a  colonel  of  the  militia,  that  he  might  have  had  considerable 
influence  over  the  inhabitants ;  but,  that  he  peremptorily 
refused  to  take  up  arms  against  the  Americans. 

"  She  also  declares,  that  on  his  refusal  to  take  a  com- 
mission, he  was  summoned  to  mount  guard  as  a  private  in 
the  garrison  of  Charles-town;  but  he  refused  this,  and  said 
he  would  rather  be  sent  to  the  Provost ;  and  that,  from 
time  to  time,  he  has  been,  and  is  now,  not  only  suspected  to 
be  an  enemy  to  the  British  Government,  but  is  shaken  off 
by  all  his  acquaintance ;  he  not  only  lives  retired  from 
society  in  town,  but  he  has  been  so  much  distressed 
for  want  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  that  your  petitioner, 
though  brought  up  in  ease  and  affluence,  has  been  for 
months  past  obliged  to  the  necessity  of  making  shirts,  and 
even  submitting  to  drudgery,  in  order  to  maintain  herself, 
her  child,  and  husband,  whose  low  state  of  health  could  not 
permit  him  to  come  out  of  town. 

"  Your  petitioner  now  comes  before  this  Honorable 
House,  to  beg  that  he  and  his  family  may  be  restored  to  the 
bosom  of  this  country  ;  and  she  implores  the  mercy  and 
protection  of  her  countrymen,  in  behalf  of  a  husband,  who 
has  never  done  a  single  act  of  hostility  against  a  country 
that  is  dear  to  him,  and  of  which  his  wife  and  child  are 
natives. 

"  And  your  petitioner,  as  in  duty  bound,  &c. 

"  Sarah  Steward. 

"  Jacksonl)orough,  18th  Feby.^1782." 

The  touching  appeal  of  Mrs.  Steward  was  successful.  Her 
husband,  once  prominent  and  highly  esteemed,  but  now 
In'oken  in  spirit  and  health,  was  relieved  from  banishment, 
and  his  estate  from  confiscation.  Colonel  Steward  appears 
to  have  been  possessed  of  an  amiable  character  and  excellent 
traits. 


380  HISTORY  OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

His  unfortunate  error  in  setting  at  defiance  the  resolves 
of  the  Provincial  Congress^  prohibiting  the  collection  of  debts, 
was  the  turning  point  in  his  political  career.  The  fact  of 
his  departing  soon  after  for  England,  and  on  his  return  of 
remaining  in  Charles-town  until  action  was  about  to  be 
taken  by  the  Legislature,  doubtless  tended  to  confirm  the 
suspicions  of  the  public  as  to  his  fidelity  to  the  American 
cause.  He  again  took  up  his  residence  on  his  plantation 
near  Cheraw  Hill,  and  died  in  less  than  three  years  after.* 

The  Royal  Gazette  of  March  26th,  contained  the  follow- 
ing notice  of  the  action  of  the  Legislature  on  the  Confisca- 
tion Bill,  &c.  :— 

"  Charles-town,  March  20th,  1782. 
"  The  following   has   been  sent   to  us  from   the  country, 

as  a  correct  list  of  those  persons  whose   estates  have  been 

confiscated   by  an  Act  of  the  rebel  Assembly   at  Jackson- 
borough  ; — 

"  They  are  divided  into  six  classes. 

"  Class  I. — Comprehends  all  British  subjects  who  have  pro- 
perty in  this  country — that  is  to  say,  such 
persons  as  never  have  submitted  to  the 
American  Government. 

"  Class  II. — Such  of  the  former  inhabitants  of  this  country, 
as  presented  congratulatory  addresses  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  and  Admiral  Arbuthnot. 

"  Class  III. — Those  who  petitioned  to  be  armed  in  defence 
of  the  British  Government,  after  the  con- 
quest of  this  Province. 

"  Class  IV. — Those  who  congratulated  Earl  Cornwallis  on 
the  victory  gained  at  Camden. 

"  Class  V. — Those  who  have  borne  commissions,  civil  or 
military,  under  the  British  Government,  since 
the  conquest  of  this.  Province. 

"  Class  VI. — Obnoxious  persons.^^ 

Under  Class  V.,  the  names  of  Daniel  Clary,  Bobert  Gray, 

and  William  Henry  Mills,  citizens  of  Cheraw  District,  were 


*  The  following  notice  appeared  in  the  Columbian  Herald ;  or,  Fairiotic 
Courier  of  Is^orth  America,  of  January  13th,  1785  : — 

"  Lately  died,  at  his  seat  at  Fairy  Hill,  Cheraws,  Charles  Augustus  Steward, 
Esq." 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  381 

included.  The  latter  was  banished,  and  his  estate  eonfis- 
cated.  He  was,  years  after,  known  to  be  in  Jamaica,  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  sugar.  It  is  somewhat  remarkable, 
up  to  how  late  a  period  he  appears  to  have  retained  the 
confidence  of  the  people.  Before  his  banishment  he  became 
very  obnoxious. 

The  Royal  Gazette  sometimes  made  a  show  of  merriment 
at  the  expense  of  the  AY  lugs. 

On  other  occasions,  it  indulged  in  bitter  sarcasm,  as  in 
the  following  announcements  of  13th  March,  1782,  under 
the  head  of  "  intelligence  extraordinary  from  Philadel- 
phia "  :— 

"  The  following  books  ai*e  in  press  there,  and  will  speedily 
be  published  ; — 

"  A  Treatise  on  Bills  of  Exchange,  with  observations  on 
Protests,  according  to  the  newest  and  most  approved  methods, 
by  Robert  INIoms,  Esq.,  Financier  to  the  United  States. 

"  A  Dissertation  on  the  difference  between  Mexican  and 
Spanish  Milled  Dollars,  by  the  same. 

"  Killing  Tories,  no  Murder.  Embellished  with  a  beau- 
tiful Fi'ontispiece,  representing  the  death  of  Mr.  Dawkins, 
and  dedicated,  by  permission,  to  his  Excellency,  General 
Green,  by  Colonel  "Wade  Hampton. 

"  The  Sacred  Obligation  of  a  Military  Parole,  stated  and 
illustrated,  by  Brigadier- General  Pickens. 

"  Ways  and  Means  for  the  year  1782,  by  a  Member  of 
the  Assembly  at  J  acksonborough,  with  a  Supplement  by 
John  Rutledge,  Esq.,  on  the  Advantages  of  Converting 
Indigo  into  Paper  Certificates. 

"  A  Topographical  Description  of  the  Northern  Parts  of 
South  Carolina  betwixt  Pedee  and  Santee,  illustrated  with 
a  !Map,  wherein  are  accurately  delineated  all  the  Thickets 
and  Swamps  in  that  Country  from  an  actual  survey,  by 
Brigadier- General  ISIarion. 

"  Select  Manoeuvres  for  Cavalry,  to  which  are  added  Prac- 
tical Observations  on  the  most  soldier-like  manner  of  swim- 
ming rivers  on  a  route,  by  the  same. 

"  Description  of  the  Strong  Brick  Castle  at  the  Eutaws, 
by  General  Green. ^^ 

Had  these  choice  volumes  been  republished  a  little  Avhile 


382  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

aftei%  it  would  have  been  with  very  marked  notes  and 
emendations^  and  a  terrible  significance.  The  delay  in 
getting  them  out  of  press  was  fortunate  indeed  ! 

The  Government  was  forced  to  keep  a  watchful  eye  on 
the  retention^  for  its  own  use,  of  the  supplies  furnished 
within  the  limits  of  the  State.  The  removal  of  cattle  had 
excited  attention,  when  Colonel  Brown,  of  the  North  Carolina 
Militia,  was  stationed  on  Pedee  for  that  purpose.  On  the 
19th  of  May  General  Pinckney  wrote  to  General  Matthews 
on  the  subject. 

"  Pon  Pon,  May  19th,  1782. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  By  a  letter  this  moment  received  from  General 
Huger,  dated  the  10th  of  this  month,  he  desires  me  to  in- 
form your  Excellency  that  a  Colonel  Perkins,  a  trader  from 
Virginia,  has  contracted  for  five  or  six  hundred  head  of 
cattle  on  Pedee  and  Cheraw,  and  vv^hich,  in  a  few  days,  will 
be  driven  off  for  Virginia  if  not  immediately  stopped.  The 
consequences  of  such  a  speculation  (for  our  Commissioners 
have  it  not  in  their  power  to  go  to  market  with  ready 
money),  are  truly  alarming. 

"  I  am, 
"  Your  Excellency's  most  obedient  Servant, 

"  Charles  Cotesworth  Pinckney.^^ 

The  result  of  the  information  that  was  thus  given  is  not 
known.  The  trial  of  the  Whigs  of  Pedee,  and  the  story 
of  their  conflicts  with  the  Tories  by  day  and  by  night  would 
fill  a  volume,  could  it  be  written  out  in  full.  The  sufferers 
and  actors,  however,  in  these  scenes  have  long  since  passed 
away ;  and  amid  the  uncertainties  of  tradition  but  little 
which  is  reliable  can  be  collected.  Enough  remains  to  con- 
tinue the  narrative  through  another  chapter,  and  to  the 
commemoration  of  the  terrible  strife  that  chapter  will  be 
devoted. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  383 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Depredations  of  Tories  on  Poke  Swamp,  Jeffrey's,  Black,  and  Lynche's  Creeks 
— James  Gregg  and  Charles  Evans  among  the  sufterers — Duke  (Hen's  en- 
gagement—  Daniel  Hicks's  encounter — William  Pegues'  losses — John 
Wilson's  escape — Skirmishes  of  Benton's  forces — Alexander  M'Intosh's 
adventure — His  prowess — Close  of  1782 — Colonel  Benton  commands  on 
Pedee — His  letters  to  Governor  Matthews  and  General  Marion — Marion's 
Brigade — State  of  feeling  between  Whigs  and  Tories — Whigs  attack  Tories 
between  Lumber  River  and  Little  Pedee — Colonel  M'Rce's  adventure — 
William  and  John  Bethea  and  the  Tories — Hawthorne's  revenge — Jef. 
Butler,  the  Tory  Captain — Account  of  him  and  his  punishment — Andrew 
Hunter's  escape  from  Fanning — Their  meeting  in  Charles-town — Fanning's 
attack  on  Robert  Gregg — Fanning's  character  and  end — Adventure  of 
General  Harrington — Curious  sequel  of  the  snme — General  Harrington's 
character  and  death — Singular  end  of  Claudius  Pegues — Maurice  Murphy — 
Incidents  connected  with  him — His  character  and  end — Tristram  Thomas 
— Some  account  of  him — Lemuel  Benton — His  character  delineated — His 
course  after  the  war — Colonel  Geoi'ge  Hicks — Joshua  Ammons — His  re- 
markable career — His  meeting  with  Lafayette — Jacob  Brandler — His  un- 
equalled gift  to  his  country—  Notice  of  William  Shaw — Tlie  close  of  the 
Revolution — List  of  some  of  those  fi-om  Pedee  engnged  in  active  service. 

Wherever  a  few  defenceless  Whigs  could  be  fouud,  or 
superior  numbers  seemed  to  promise  the  foe  an  easy  victory, 
there  the  Tories  hovered  around.  From  the  lower  settle- 
ments on  Lynche's  Creek  up  to  the  North  Carolina  line 
above,  depredations  were  committed. 

Among  others,  Captain  James  Gregg  had  been  forced, 
for  a  considerable  time,  to  conceal  himself  in  Poke  Swamp, 
Avhere  he  slept  in  a  hollow  log,  fed  by  his  family,  occasionally 
visiting  his  residence  under  cover  of  darkness.  His  house 
was  eventually  burned,  his  property  destroyed,  and  his  wife 
and  children  turned  out  of  doors. 

Along  the  borders  of  Jeffrey^s  and  Black  Creeks  many 
similar  scenes  were  witnessed.  Those  neighbourhoods  which 
were  remote  from  the  river  settlements,  and  consequently 
weak  and  exposed  from  their  isolated  position,  suffered  most. 
In  these  instances  a  few  persons  here  and  there,  of  property 
and  prominence  in  the  straggle  for  liljcrty,  were  made  the 
special  objects  of  this  retaliating  warfare.       The  Blakeneys 


3S4  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

and  Evans^  on  Lynchers  Creek,  in  wliat  is  now  Chesterfield 
District,  had  made  themselves  particularly  obnoxious. 
Charles  Evans^  was  possessed  of  a  good  property,  and  noted 
for  his  fine  stock.  On  one  occasion  the  British  and  Tories 
surprised  and  captured  him.  His  best  horses,  with  other 
property,  were  taken.  Evans  himself  was  securely  tied, 
put  upon  an  inferior  animal,  and  carried  a  prisoner  to 
Charles-town,  where  he  remained  in  confinement  until  the 
war  was  over.  Near  the  North  Carolina  line,  bordering 
upon  the  Cheraw  District,  many  bloody  conflicts  took  place 
with  the  Tories.  Duke  Glen,  whose  name  appears  before 
the  Revolution  as  a  resident  of  St.  David^s  Parish,  removed 
to  Anson  County,  and  settled  near  the  mouth  of  Mill  Creek, 
on  Pedee.  He  was  a  noted  captain  of  the  Whig  forces  in 
this  partisan  strife,  and  especially  inimical  to  the  Tories. 
The  latter  had  been  for  some  time  on  the  look-out  for  him, 
and  hearing  on  one  occasion  of  his  return,  collected  a  party 
to  surprise  and  capture  him  at  his  own  house. 

Fortunately,  Glen  heard  of  their  plan,  and  prepared  for 
them  by  gathering  a  tried  company  of  Whigs.  He  divided 
his  force  into  three  parts,  taking  the  main  body  into  the 
dwelling  under  his  immediate  command.  One  portion  was 
stationed  in  the  loft  of  a  stable  near  the  path  by  which  he 
knew  the  approach  would  be  made,  and  the  rest  in  ambush. 
They  were  to  let  the  enemy  pass,  and  upon  a  signal,  to  be 
given  by  Glen,  rush  up  and  surround  the  Tory  party.  The 
plan  was  well  laid.  Of  those  in  the  stable  loft,  the  late 
Colonel  Benjamin  Rogers,  of  Marlborough,  was  one.  The 
Whigs  became  so  impatient  for  the  attack,  as  to  fire  too 
soon,  which  enabled  the  Tories  to  escape  in  time  to  save 
themselves  from  serious  loss.  Only  one  of  their  number 
was  wounded;  and  he  managed  to  get  off  a  little  distance 
and  conceal  himself  through  the  night.  The  next  morning- 
he  was  followed  by  his  bloody  track,  found  alive  and  begged 


*  Charles  Evans  was  the  first  husband  of  the  late  Mrs.  Mary  Blakeney,  of 
Chesterfield,  who  continued  to  reside  in  that  immediate  neighbourhood.  She 
lived  to  a  very  advanced  age,  and  was  remarkable  for  her  physical  and  mental 
vigor  and  activity  to  the  last.  When  past  eighty,  she  rode  over  her  plantation 
daily,  and  superintended  in  person  her  own  business.  Such  were  the  hardy 
characters  formed  iu  the  cradle  of  the  Revolution  and  the  times  preceding  it. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHE  RAWS.  385 

for  liis  life,  but  William  Pratt,  of  Anson,  seized  a  gun  and 
shot  him  dead.  On  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  near  the 
dividing  line  betAveen  Richmond  County  and  what  is  now 
INIarlborongh  District,  lived  two  young  men,  named  Skipper, 
of  mixed  blood,  but  peaceable  and  inoffensive.  They  had 
taken  parol,  however,  and  for  no  other  offence,  were  seized 
by  the  Whigs  on  both  sides  of  the  line,  and  hung.  Such  a 
course  was  well  calculated  to  excite  a  feeling  of  bloody  re- 
taliation, and  thus  the  murderous  conflict  continiied.  Daniel 
Hicks,  a  staunch  Whig,  manned  the  widow  of  Colonel  John 
Donaldson,  already  mentioned,  Avho  died  about  the  year 
1781.  Hicks  had  excited  the  special  hostility  of  the  Tories, 
who  laid  many  plans  to  capture  and  kill  him.  In  one 
instance,  they  collected  a  party  to  surprise  him  at  his  own 
house,  at  night.  Having  notice  of  their  approach,  he 
directed  his  wife  to  say,  that  no  one  was  at  home  but  her- 
self. They  were  satisfied  Hicks  was  there,  however,  and 
threatened  to  break  the  door  open  if  she  did  not  admit 
them.  It  was  a  desperate  emergency,  but  the  fearless 
Whig,  brave  and  collected,  was  equal  to  it.  Directing  his 
M-ife  to  open  the  door,  and  stand  behind  it,  as  she  did  so, 
there  was  Hicks  with  his  gun  ready,  but  so  as  not  to  be 
perceived  in  the  darkness.  As  the  party  advanced,  he  shot 
a  Tory,  named  Brigman,  who  first  presented  himself,  inflict- 
ing a  desperate  wound.  Suspecting  thereupon,  that  they 
were  about  to  be  set  upon  by  a  party  concealed  in  the  house, 
the  wretches  immediately  fled.  Hicks  gathered  a  company 
of  his  neighbours  forthwith  and  pursued,  but  not  in  time 
to  overtake  them.  Brigman  was  found  in  the  morning,  and 
put  to  death. 

William  Pegues,  was  an  ardent  Whig,  and  suffered 
much  from  the  depredations  of  the  Tories.  On  one 
occasion  as  a  party  of  them  approached  his  house,  he 
succeeded  in  making  a  hasty  retreat  to  the  river,  and  was 
pursued,  but  by  means  of  a  canoe,  effected  his  escape.  After 
plundering  the  dwelling,  they  set  it  on  fire,  and  went  off, 
taking  forty  negi'oes  with  them,  of  whom,  only  a  few  were 
afterwards  recovered.  Mrs.  Pegues,  then  in  delicate  health, 
had  to  fly  with  two  little  children,  an  infant  but  a  few 
weeks   old,  and  a  young  negro   girl.      She  remained   some 

c  c 


386  HISTORY  or  the  old  cheraws. 

time  on  tlie  banks  of  the  river,  crying  for  lielp^  until  some 
one  from  the  family  of  her  husband^s  father  came  to  her 
relief,  taking  her  helpless  party  across  to  a  place  of  safety. 

John  Wilson^  while  on  a  Whig  excursion  into  North 
Carolina^  was  taken  by  the  Tories.  They  started  doAvn 
with  him  from  Haley's  Ferry,  having  given  him  the  benefit 
of  riding  an  inferior  horse. 

After  proceeding  some  distance,  he  pretended  to  have 
been  hurt  in  the  leg,  and  putting  it  across  the  saddle,  rode 
on  for  some  time,  apparently  in  great  agony.  His  guard 
having  become  careless,  allowed  him  to  fall  somewhat  be- 
hind, which  he  soon  managed  to  increase  to  a  respectable 
distance,  when,  putting  spurs  to  his  horse,  he  succeeded  in 
making  his  escape. 

The  troops  under  Colonel  Benton  were  engaged  at  diffe- 
rent times  in  skirmishes  Avith  the  Tories  on  Black  Creek. 
On  one  occasion,  a  detachment  of  Benton's  forces,  and  those 
of  a  Captain  Baker,  of  Georgia,  united  against  the  foe. 
The  former  happening  to  be  sick,  requested  Baker  to  take 
command.  The  Whigs  were  at  breakfast  when  the  enemy 
came  upon  them  near  the  ferry  on  Black  Creek,  on  the 
George-town  and  Cheraw  Road.  Thrown  for  a  moment 
into  confusion,  they  soon  rallied,  and  forced  the  Tories  to 
retreat,  pursuing  them  some  distance.  Several  of  the 
latter  were  killed,  and  some  wounded  too  severely  to  escape. 
Among  the  killed,  was  a  DuBose,  the  only  one  of  a  very 
large  connexion  who  took  sides  against  his  country.  A 
noted  Toiy,  Hughes,  was  one  of  the  wounded.  When  the 
Whigs  returned  from  the  pursuit,  and  were  about  to  des- 
patch him,  he  pleaded  for  mercy,  and  urged  that  he  had  often 
fed  the  Whigs.  The  commanding  officer  replied,  that  if  he 
could  prove  this,  he  would  be  spared.  Peter  DuBose  con- 
firmed the  statement,  but  added,  that  he  had  fed  them  with 
the  provisions  of  the  Whigs.  The  old  offender  was  spared, 
his  age  probably  touching  the  hearts  of  his  captors.  He 
had  been  shot  on  former  occasions,  and  several  times  left 
for  dead.  He  was  once  hung  by  a  Whig,  named  Baxter, 
at  Daniel  DuBose's,  to  a  gate-post.  Thus  left  suspended, 
his  wife  came  to  the  rescue,  and  finding  him  still  alive,  cut 
the  rope  and  saved  his  life. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  387 

Another  skirmish  took  place  about  this  timc^  higher  up 
on  Bhick  Creek,  Colonel  Benton  commanding.  The  Tories 
were  ronted  and  fled,  bnt  being  overtaken  and  surrounded, 
were  forced  to  make  a  hand  to  hand  fight,  suffering  very 
severely.  Colonel  Benton  had  no  fire  arms  except  his 
pistols.  One  man,  pressed  by  the  colonel,  turned  about, 
and  was  in  the  act  of  firing  his  musket,  but,  before  he  could 
do  so,  Benton  discharged  his  pistol  at  him,  missing  him, 
however,  then  threw  it  at  him  and  knocked  him  from  his 
horse  to  the  ground. 

In  another  skirmish  on  Black  Creek,  at  a  point  nearest 
Society  Hill,  Captain  Alex,  M'Intosh,*  then  a  young  man, 
commanded  the  Whigs,  A  brother  of  M'^Iutosh  was 
wounded,  and  the  latter,  excited  to  desperation,  killed  every 
Tory  he  caught.  On  this  occasion,  Hughes  was  wounded. 
M'Intosh  coming  up,  fired  his  j)istol  at  him,  but  did  not 
kill  him,  and  desisted  from  any  further  attempt  upon  his 
life.  Captain  M'^Intosh  was  a  man  of  large  size,  and  ex- 
traordinaiy  strength  and  activity.  He  is  said,  in  one 
instance,  when  hotly  pursued  by  the  Tories,  to  have  leaped 
his  horse  across  Black  Creek.  Many  incidents  have  been 
handed  down  of  his  personal  prowess,  some  of  them  in  this 
age  almost  passing  the  bounds  of  credibility.  A  noted 
character,  known  long  after  as  Old  Mrs.  Croly,  lived  about 
this  time  two  miles  below  Society  Hill,  afterwards  in 
the  flat  woods  on  Black  Creek.  She  often  harbored  the 
Tories.  John  Lucas  and  a  few  other  Whigs  once  found  a 
party  of  Tories  at  her  house,  who  managed  to  escape.  Lucas 
took  her  out,  and  was  about  to  hang  her,  when  Captain 
M'Intosh  and  Major  John  Mikell  came  up,  and  by  their 
intercession,  caused  her  to  be  released.  Thus  the  year 
1782  opened,  and  advanced.  The  region  of  the  Pedee  was 
left  open  to  the  incursions  of  the  Tories ;  but,  unsupported 
as  they  were  by  any  neighbouring  British  force,  their  allies, 
were  for  the  most  part  unsuccessful,  and  gradually  the 
light  began  to  dawn  upon  Carolina,  which  was  soon  to  grow 
into   a   bright   day    of  emancipation   from   a  foreign  yoke, 

*  Captain  M'Intosh  held  many  offices  of  trust  in  after  life,  but  was  not  a  good 
manager.  He  lost  his  property  and  died  about  the  year  1828.  He  was  the 
executor  of  General  M'Intosh.  George  M'Intosh,  formerly  of  ilarlboi'ough 
District,  was  his  only  siu-viving  son. 


388  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

and  of  a  government  of  tlieir  own.  Lieut. -Colonel 
Benton  was  now  the  jmncipal  leader  on  the  Pedee.  He 
had  many  difficulties  to  contend  against,  some  of  which 
were  pressing  him  sorely.  In  the  following  letter  to  Gov. 
Matthews^  while  he  pays  a  justly  merited  tribute  to  the 
inhabitants  of  St.  Da^dd^s,  touching  allusion  is  made  to 
certain  evils  from  which  they  were  now  suffering. 

"St.  David's,  Great  Pedee,  August  20th,  1782. 
"Sir, — Though  I  have  not  the  honor  of  a  personal  acquain- 
tance with  you,  I  am  now  under  the  necessity  of  humbly 
addressing  you  on  this  manner,  in  behalf  of  the  Parish  and 
Regiment  I  have  the  honor  to  represent  and  command ;  a 
people  that  have  ever  stood  among  those  who  are  foremost 
for  their  inflexible  attachment  to  their  country;  suffered 
many  capital  distresses,  nor  have  ever  despaired  of  success 
in  our  greatest  extremity.  Although  we  have  so  long  been 
at  such  a  distance  from  the  enemy^s  lines,  and  suffering  every 
murder,  plundering,  and  cruelty  that  could  be  perpetrated  by 
a  banditti  of  the  most  desperate  villains  and  mulattoes,  im- 
mediately bordering  on  our  settlements,  we  have,  on  all 
occasions,  turned  out,  and  kept  in  General  Marion^s  camp 
equal  numbers  with  any  in  his  brigade.  Part  of  those  who 
were  under  a  truce  that  have  not  surrendered,  and  many 
other  villains  in  this  part  of  the  country,  that  still  continue 
their  outrages,  render  the  lives  and  property  of  the  good 
citizens  very  unsafe  ;  and  this  disorder,  in  all  probability, 
must  continue,  and  the  re-establishment  of  good  order  and 
civil  law  be  hindered,  except  you,  in  your  goodness,  will  in- 
dulge my  regiment  with  a  sufficient  guard  to  the  gaol, 
as  it  is  insufficient  for  its  use ;  with  orders  for  supplies  of 
provisions  for  that  and  the  poor  inhabitants ;  and  an  armed 
party  to  detect  and  bring  to  punishment  the  refractory  and 
disobedient,  which  my  warm  desire  for  that  purpose  will  in- 
duce me  to  engage  to  have  punctually  performed,  with  all 
due  moderation,  for  the  good  of  this  country,  and  agreeably 
to  any  instructions  you  may  think  proper  to  give  me ;  which 
I  could  do,  and  keep  one-fourth  on  the  field  on  common 
occasions,  and  on  extraordinary  emergencies  with  cheerful- 
ness turn  out  one-half.      My  feelings  will  not  let  me  omit 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  389 

meutioniiig  to  you  some  characters,  among  tlicm,  of  Mr. 
Gaincy's  truce  men,  who  have  been  received  by  General 
^Marion  as  citizens,  and  are  now  doing  military  duty,  and 
enjoying  equal  privileges  with  yoiu*  best  soldiers  and  citi- 
zens, who  have  borne  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day. 
Such,  I  mean,  as  were  meant  to  be  exempted  by  an  Act  of 
the  late  General  Assembly  at  Jacksonborough — men,  who 
have  burned,  plundered,  and  in  cold  blood  (after  many  of 
our  worthiest  men  had  surrendered  as  prisouers  of  war),  in 
the  most  ignominious  and  cruel  manner,  taken  their  lives, 
particularly  Colonel  Abel  KolVs,  my  worthy  predecessor, 
and  a  gentleman  formerly  a  member  of  the  Assembly,  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  a  good  officer,  and  a  useful  citizen,  and 
capital  loss  to  this  part  of  the  country  :  and  the  very  vil- 
lains that  perpetrated  this  wanton,  horrid  murder,  burning 
and  plundering,  are  now,  in  the  face  of  his  distressed  family 
and  friends,  received  and  restored  to  equal  privileges  w^ith 
the  men  who  have  suffered  everything  by  them  that  it  was 
in  theii*  power  and  savage  disposition  to  inflict. 
"  I  am.  Sir, 
"  Your  most  obedient  and  very  humble  Servant, 

"  Lemuel  Benton, 
"  Lieut.-Col.  Commanding  Cheraw  Militia. 

"  N.B. — Your  answer  and  instructions  I  shall  hope  to 
receive  by  the  bearer,  Mr.  Vinow,  in  regard  to  the  above. 
I  do  not  doubt  but  General  Marion  will  acquiesce  in  it,  as 
I  mentioned  the  matter  to  him  not  long  since,  about  provi- 
sions, men,  and  ammunition. 

''  If  you  will  be  so  kind  as  to  furnish  us  with  the  Militia 
laws,  passed  by  the  last  Assembly,  it  will  be  of  singular  ser- 
vice, and  the  people  and  myself  will  be  instructed.^^* 

Governor  oSIatthews  appears  to  have  been  sufficiently  im- 
pressed by  this  letter  to  address  the  following  brief  note  to 
General  Clarion  : — 

"  Uxbridge,  August  2-ith,  1782. 

"  Sir, — I  enclose  you  a  letter  I  have  just  received  from 


Gibbes's  "  Documentary  History,"  1776-82,  pp.  2u7-20y. 


390  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Lieut. -Col.  Benton,  and  wish  you  to  take  such  orders  therein 
as  you  shall  think  proper. 

"  I  am,  Sir, 
'^  Your  most  obedient,  humble  Servant, 

"  John  Matthews."* 

What  specific  orders,  if  any,  this  communication  of  Col. 
Benton  induced,  is  not  known.  Doubtless  Gen.  Marion  did 
all  in  his  power  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  Upper  Pedee. 

A  few  days  after,  Col.  Benton  addressed  the  general 
again  : — 

"  St.  David's,  August  29th,  1782. 

''  Sir, — Yours  from  "Watbo,  of  the  18th  inst.,  I  received, 
and  in  answer,  I  assure  you,  that  I  have  constantly  been, 
since  my  arrival  at  home,  and  still  am,  using  my  utmost 
endeavors  to  send  you  the  full  one-third  of  my  regiment. 

"  The  twenty  men  with  whom  I  had  your  permission  to 
guard  the  jail,  have  been  constantly  on  hard  duty,  catching 
and  bringing  in  the  disobedient ;  so  that,  inclusive  of  what 
you  have  lately  ordered  and  the  guard  will  bring  you,  in 
addition  to  Major  Thomases  class,  there  will  be  at  least  fifty 
men ;  and  I  hope  to  have  it  in  my  power,  about  the  3rd  of 
next  month,  to  send  you  some  more,  as  I  expect  by  that 
time  to  have  another  squad  gathered. 

"  But,  without  this  armed  party  to  be  constantly  on  duty, 
and  monthly  relieved,  I  cannot  do  anything  ;  for  the  dis- 
trict is  so  extensive,  the  duty  so  hard,  and  the  distance  to 
your  camp  so  great,  that  it  can^t  be  expected  that  the  men 
who  have  just  been  discharged  from  your  camp  can  perform 
that  dvity.  This  mode  would  have  been  better  executed  if 
the  commanding  officer  of  my  regiment  at  home,  when  I 
was  in  the  camp,  had  not  have  hindered  part  of  my  orders 
(that  was  in  his  power)  for  that  purpose.  There  are  but 
fourteen  of  the  twenty  men  mentioned  that  are  at  this  time 
fit  for  duty,  six  of  whom  I  send  with  the  party,  and  the 
others  will  come  with  the  next  I  have  mentioned;  though, 
I  hope,  you  will  send  them  back,  as  the  law  cannot  be  en- 
forced without  them.      The  people  are,  at   this  time,  very 


*  Gibbes's  "  Documentary  History,"  1776-82,  p.  211. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHKRAWS.  391 

sickly  about  home,  as  has  appeared  by  tlie  trials  of  a  num- 
ber of  men  by  a  regimental  court  I  lately  ordered,  and  held 
four  days,  when  I  used  every  lawful  and  reasonable  method 
in  my  power  to  turn  out  the  men.  There  are  several  men, 
whom  the  guard  will  bring  down,  sentenced  to  some 
extraordinary  duty,  a  list  of  whose  names,  and  their  term  of 
service,  I  will  send  to  Major  Thomas. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  with  all  due  respect, 

"  Your  obedient,  humble  Servant, 

"  Leml.  Benton, 

''  Colonel.* 

"  N.B. — If  you  permit  me  to  continue  the  guard  at  the 
jail,  please  to  give  some  instructions  about  saltj  &c.,  for 
them,  as  it  is  scarce  here."" 

To  what  commanding  officer  refei'ence  is  made  in  this 
letter,  is  not  known.  Petty  jealousies  doubtless  affected 
some  who  were  otherwise  patriotic.  It  was  a  happy  cir- 
cumstance for  the  people  of  this  region,  that  a  man  of  the 
firmness  and  unfaltering  devotion  of  Benton  was  left  to 
plead  and  defend  their  cause. 

Again  he  writes  to  Marion  a  letter  of  the  same  date  with 
the  foregoing  : — 

«  St.  David's,  August  29th,  1782. 

^'  Sir, — Yours  from  Watbo  I  answered,  and  expect  it  will 
be  handed  you  with  this,  as  also  yours  fi'om  Lind's  Ferry, 
of  the  26th,  which  is  just  come  to  my  hands. 

"  One-third  of  my  regiment  I  have  under  orders  to  join 
you,  and  expect  with  this  will  come  in  about  fifty  men,  in 
addition  to  Major  Thomases  division ;  and  those  that  may 
remain  behind  I  will  send  with  all  possible  expedition,  so 
that  if  in  my  power  the  public  service  may  not  be  hindered. 
As  to  the  men  being  relieved  monthly,  it  is  so  late  now 
that  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  get  them  in  camp  until 
near  the  middle  of  the  ensuing  month. 

"  I  am  very  sensible  that  it  will'  make  a  considerable 
confusion  in  the  regiment,  as  the  men  do  not  look  upon 
themselves  liable  to  go  to  camp  yet,  and   the  law  will   not 


Gibbes's  "  Douuinentary  History,"  1776-82,  pp.  214,  215. 


392  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

oblige  them  until  eacli  division  does  two  months^  duty  agree- 
ably to  law ;  tberefore^  I  must  beg  to  be  excused  in  that 
particular^  and  I  will  send  relief  early  in  October^  when  their 
tour  will  be  out,  according  to  law. 

''  I  remain,  with  all  due  regard, 

"  Your  most  obedient  Servant, 

"  Leml.  Benton, 
''  Lieut.-Col.  Commandant.* 

"  N.B. — Excuse  my  paper,  &c.,  which  hindered  me  from 
writing  more  fully. 

"  L.  B." 

Marion^s  brigade  consisted  about  this  time  of  the  follow- 
ing regiments  :  Lieutenant-Colonel  M'Donald^s,  Cols.  Rich- 
ardson's, Irvin's,  Benton^s,  and  the  regiment  formerly 
Maybank's. 

Of  the  efficient  service  it  performed  in  the  closing  work 
of  the  Bevolution  it  is  needless  to  speak.  Upon  Colonel 
Benton's  command  devolved  the  additional  duty  of  pro- 
tecting an  extensive  territory  from  the  incursions  of  the 
Tories. 

The  Whigs,  however,  were  not  to  suffer  much  longer,  for 
the  protracted  struggle  of  the  patriots  of  Carolina  was  now 
drawing  rapidly  to  an  end.  The  evacuation  of  Charles-town, 
though  officially  announced  by  General  Leslie  as  early  as 
the  7th  of  August,  was  not  to  take  place  until  the  13th  of 
December,  1782. 

Nothing  of  special  note  occurred  on  the  Pedee  during  the 
remainder  of  the  year.  The  conflict  with  the  Tories  did  not 
cease  at  once  with  the  withdrawal  of  the  British  forces. 
The  state  of  feeling  was  too  intense,  the  animosities  which 
had  been  engendered  were  too  deadly  to  be  suddenly  done 
away. 

Old  feuds  were  to  be  settled  and  retaliations  inflicted, 
until,  by  degrees,  a  state  of  internal  peace  and  quiet  was 
restored.  In  the  skirmishes  which  subsequently  took  place, 
the  Tories  were  the  sufferers.  Of  these  some  traditional 
accounts  remain. 


Gibbes's  "  Documentary  History,"  1776-82,  p.  216. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  393 

In  tlic  fork  between  Lumber  River  and  Little  Pedec  was 
a  noted  band  of  Tories,  who  continued  to  hold  out  against 
the  Goverumentj  even  after  it  beeame  firmly  established.  A 
party  of  AVhigs,  consisting,  with  others,  of  Jordan  Gibson, 
William  and  Thomas  Neville,  Enos  Tart,  John  Bethea,  sen., 
John  Bethea,  jun.,  and  Levi  Odom,  banded  together  to 
bring  these  outlaws  to  terms.  A  man  named  Courtney,  who 
had  acted  as  commissary  for  the  enemy  in  these  parts,  was 
l)articularly  ol)noxious  to  the  Whigs.  They  had  often  tried 
to  take  him,  but  in  vain.  lie  was  in  the  habit  of  going  to 
old  Shoemakers,  a  noted  Tory,  and  at  length,  this  Whig 
party  in  passing  found  him  there.  Shoemake  lived  in  an 
open  field,  and  in  order  to  make  sure  of  Courtney,  his  pur- 
suers stationed  themselves  at  some  distance  around.  Court- 
ney, seeing  their  approach,  attempted  to  escape  on  his  horse, 
which  was  a  very  fleet  animal.  He  came  first  upon  Gibson, 
who  fired,  but  missed  him.  He  then  approached  Tart,  who 
took  better  aim,  and  broke  his  leg,  bringing  him  to  the 
ground.  As  they  gathered  around  him,  Odom,  who  was  a  rela- 
tive of  the  Betheas,  and  had  served  as  a  soldier  in  Virginia, 
called  on  the  Nevilles  to  shoot  the  wounded  man,  but  they 
refused.  He  then  said  if  no  other  would  he  would  shoot 
him  himself,  and  did  so,  putting  an  end  to  his  life.  Long 
afterwards,  when  sick  and  in  delirium,  Odom  was  seen  to 
exhibit  the  utmost  terror  at  the  vision  of  the  bloody  victim 
of  his  revenge. 

Proceeding  from  this  place,  the  Whigs,  having  reached 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  Tories,  succeeded  in  capturing 
several,  and  determined  to  execute  them  without  delay. 
But,  the  alarm  being  given,  a  sufficient  number  gathered 
from  the  adjacent  country  to  rescue  the  prisoners,  and  bring 
their  captors  to  treat  with  them.  The  result  was  that  the 
Tories,  satisfied  by  this  demonstration  of  the  fate  that 
awaited  them  should  they  persist  in  their  course  of  opposi- 
tion, agreed  to  submit  to  the  Government  of  the  State,  and 
henceforth  keep  the  peace.  The  agreement  continued  to 
be  observed,  and  no  further  difficvdties  of  consequence  oc- 
curred in  this  locality. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  river,  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Poke    Swamp,   Colonel  M'llee   resided  after  the  war.      In 


394  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

company  with  two  others,  he  succeeded  in  capturing  one 
Bradley,  a  Tory,  who  had  been  guilty  of  notorious  depreda- 
tions. M'Ree  tied  him,  and  carried  him  to  his  house.  Soon 
after  their  arrival,  a  party  approached  for  the  purpose  ot 
rescuing  Bradley,  one  of  them_,  Lewis  Johnson,  firing  upon 
M'Ree  as  he  sat  in  his  door,  but  without  effect.  M'Ree, 
immediately  closing  the  door,  seized  his  gun,  and  from  a 
window  shot  Johnson  and  killed  him. 

Bradley  was  taken  the  next  day  to  George-town  gaol, 
but  afterwards  escaped.  He  was  subsequently  arrested  and 
hung.  Daring  the  war  several  Tories,  hearing  that  William 
Bethea,  who  lived  near  the  present  dividing  line  between 
Marlborough  and  Marion  Districts,  had  a  large  quantity  of 
money  concealed  in  his  house,  set  out  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  the  treasure.  They  found  Bethea  at  home  ;  but 
he  had  taken  the  precaution  to  select  some  other  place  of 
security  for  the  fruits  of  his  labor.  They  used  every  means 
to  extort  the  secret  from  him,  and  as  a  last  expedient,  poured 
melted  pitch  upon  his  head,  but  all  in  vain.  They  found 
he  would  pay  the  penalty  with  his  life,  and  left  wdthout 
further  molestation.  Some  time  after,  and  when  the  revo- 
lutionary struggle  was  over,  John,  a  son  of  William  Bethea, 
met  Snowden,  who  was  one  of  this  marauding  party,  in  the 
woods,  and  without  difficulty  overpowered  him.  With  a 
loose  bridle  which  he  happened  to  have,  he  attempted  to 
hang  his  victim,  but  was  not  able  to  get  him  suspended  high 
enough.  He  then  broke  his  legs,  and  carried  the  murderous 
design  into  execution.  Bethea,  commonly  known  as  "  Sweat 
Swamp  John,"  because  of  his  residence  thereon,  was  a  man 
of  remarkable  strength  and  activity.  On  a  previous  occasion, 
he  met  at  night  a  Tory,  who  was  also  a  man  of  much 
physical  power,  but,  after  a  short  struggle,  succeeded  in 
tying  him,  putting  him  on  his  horse^  and  carrying  him  as 
a  prisoner  to  Colonel  Hicks. 

Another  singular  instance  of  revenge  is  related  as  having 
occurred  in  this  neighbourhood.  A  Whig,  named  Hawthorne, 
was  plundered  and  murdered  by  a  party  of  seven  Tories. 
His  son  took  a  vow  that  he  would  not  sleep  on  a  bed  or 
eat  at  a  table  until  he  had  killed  five  of  the  seven.  He 
j)ursued  them  for  years,  and  followed  one  or  more  of  them 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  395 

to  Tennessee,  aud  is  said  actually  to  have  fulfilled  his  vow 
to  the  letter. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  the  DuBoses,  on  Lyuche's  Creek, 
was  a  famous  Tory  captain,  Jcf.  Butler.  He  had  been  guilty 
of  many  acts  of  plunder,  and  at  different  times  treated  the 
family  of  Elias  Du  Bose  with  great  rudeness  and  cruelty. 
William  Dick,  a  brother-in-law  of  Mr,  Du  Bose,  who  moved 
to  that  neighbourhood  after  the  war,  went  to  Butler's  Avitli 
a  small  party,  and  found  him  on  the  ridge  pole  of  a  corn 
crib  which  he  was  covering.  Dick  ordered  him  down,  and 
upon  Butler's  refusal  to  obey,  knocked  him  off  with  an  ear 
of  corn.  He  was  then  tied  and  carried  to  DuBose's  resi- 
dence, and  upon  being  confronted  with  Mrs.  DuBose,  denied 
having  ever  seen  her.  She  knew  him,  however,  too  well. 
He  was  then  taken  out,  tied  up,  severely  whipped,  and  told 
if  he  did  not  leave  the  country  in  a  given  number  of  days, 
he  would  be  dealt  with  more  severely.  Knowing  what  tlie 
result  would  be,  he  went  off"  without  delay,  and  was  never 
heard  of  afterwards.  As  a  Tory  leader,  the  courage  and 
ferocity  of  Butler  were  well  known  on  the  Pedee. 

"  Diu'ing  the  Whig  ascendancy,^'  says  Sabine,  "  in  that 
part  of  South  Carolina,  he  went  into  Marion's  camp  at 
Birch's  INIills,  and  submitting  himself,  claimed  the  protection 
which  the  Whig  officer  had  granted  to  some  other  Loyalists 
who  had  preceded  him. 

"  Against  this  some  of  Marion's  officers,  whose  friends  had 
suffered  at  Butler's  hands,  protested.  But  Marion  took  the 
humbled  Butler  to  his  own  tent,  and  declared  that  he  would 
protect  him  at  the  hazard  of  his  own  life.  The  officers, 
still  determined  to  indulge  their  hatred,  sent  their  com- 
mander an  offensive  message,  to  the  effect  that  Butler  should 
be  dragged  from  his  tent,  and  that  to  defend  such  a  wretch 
was  an  insult  to  humanity.  Marion  was  not  to  be  intimi- 
dated ;  and  though  the  meeting  among  his  followers  threat- 
ened to  be  formidable,  he  succeeded  in  conveying  Butler, 
under  a  strong  guard,  to  a  place  of  safety ."■^ 

How  far  the  account  of  this  partial  writer  is  to  be  relied 
upon  is  very  questionable.      One  thing,  at  least,  the  course 


*  Sabine's  "  American  Loyalists,"  p.  189. 


396  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

of  events  svibseqiiently  proved,  that  Butler  was  not  so 
fortunate  upon  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Whigs  of  St. 
David's,  who,  but  for  his  timely  removal,  would  have  made 
him  pay  the  forfeit  of  his  life. 

Towards  the  latter  part  of  the  war,  Andrew  Hunter,  of 
St.  David^s,  was  the  chief  actor  in  connexion  with  the  well- 
known  adventure  which  gave  him  celebrity.  Hunter  was  a 
bold  and  daring  spirit,  and  had  gone  on  the  occasion  re- 
ferred to,  with  a  small  force,  in  search  of  the  notorious 
Fanning,  on  Drowning  Creek,  J^Jorth  Carolina.  Fanning 
met  him  with  a  much  larger  party  than  he  was  supposed  to 
have  at  the  time.  The  Whigs  were  soon  routed,  and  then 
commenced  the  memorable  flight.  Hunter  rode  a  favorite 
mare,  and  relied  on  her  fleetness  to  save  him.  But  Fanning, 
mounted  on  as  fast  a  horse,  and  with  better  bottom,  as  the 
result  proved,  singled  out  Hunter  as  his  special  object  of 
pm'suit.  The  chase  was  long,  and  exciting  in  the  extreme. 
At  length  the  mare  failed,  and  Fanning  overtook  and  cap- 
tured her  rider.  Several  of  his  men  soon  came  up,  and  all 
dismounting,  made  themselves  merry  at  the  expense  of  the 
discomfited  Whig,  who  had  engaged  in  the  luckless  adven- 
ture. The  whole  party  sat  carelessly  about  for  some 
time,  resting  themselves  and  their  horses.  At  length 
Hunter,  who  knew  it  to  be  a  case  of  life  or  death  with  him, 
having  watched  his  opportunity,  managed  to  get  near  enough 
to  leap  astride  the  horse  of  Fanning,  and  putting  spurs,  very 
unceremoniously  bade  his  captors  adieu.  A  few  shots  were 
fired  at  him,  but  without  effect,  as  they  were  aimed  high  in 
order  to  save  the  horse. 

Hunter  had  called  his  mare  the  Bed  Doe,  and  ever  after 
the  horse  was  known  by  the  name  of  the  Red  Buck.  After 
the  war.  Hunter  and  Fanning  met  in  Charles-town.  Fanning 
demanded  his  horse,  which  Hunter  had  ridden  down,  and 
high  words  passed  between  them.  Fanning  challenged 
Hunter  to  fight.  The  latter,  having  choice  of  weapons  and 
the  mode  of  combat,  agreed  to  meet  his  adversary  the  next 
morning,  on  horseback,  with  swords,  on  the  green  near  the 
city.  It  was  soon  noised  about,  and  many  persons  assembled 
the  following  day  to  witness  the  novel  encounter.  Hunter 
rode  out  on  the  Bed    Buck.       But  Fanning,  afraid  at  heart 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEIIAWS.  397 

to  meet  one  who  was  as  active  and  powerful  as  he  was  fear- 
less, did  not  make  his  appearance,  and  kept  out  of  sight 
during  Hunter's  stay  in  town.  Afterwards,  Fanning  brought 
an  action,  in  Darlington,  for  the  horse,  but  failed  to  get  a 
verdict.  Hunter  was  subsequently  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  Darlington.  He  died  in  his  sixty- 
second  year. 

On  one  of  his  expeditious  for  the  recapture  of  his  horse, 
Fanning  made  not  a  few  of  the  scattered  Whigs  along  his 
route  feel  the  effects  of  his  vengeance.  Robert  Gregg,  a 
brother  of  Captain  James  Gregg,  was  one  of  the  sufferers. 
Upon  Fanning's  approach  to  his  house,  Gregg  attempted  to 
shoot  him,  but  his  gun  snapped.  He  then  endeavoured  to 
make  his  escape  to  the  swamp,  which  was  near  by,  but 
Avas  fired  upon  and  severely  wounded  in  the  hip.  He  fell, 
and  being  covered  with  blood,  played  his  part  so  well  as  the 
Tories  came  up,  that  they  supposed  him  to  be  dead,  and  left 
without  further  molestation.    He  continued  a  cripple  for  life. 

Fanning  was  a  notorious  marauder,  of  considerable 
talent,  but  reckless  and  sanguinary  in  disposition.  When 
INIarion  admitted  Major  Gainey  and  the  band  of  Loyalists 
and  Tories  under  him  to  terms.  Fanning  was  specially  ex- 
cluded. But  both  he  and  his  wife  succeeded  in  reaching 
Charles-town,  which  was  then  in  possession  of  the  Royal 
troops,  in  safety.  Previous  to  his  flight  to  the  coast,  he 
made  a  fruitless  attempt  to  reanimate  the  friends  of  the 
Crown,  with  whom  he  possessed  influence.  There  was,  in 
the  region  to  which  he  belonged,  no  more  determined  enemy 
of  the  Whigs  and  the  cause  of  liberty.  He  lived  to  a  great 
age,  and  died  not  very  many  years  since,  it  is  believed,  in 
Canada.'^ 

A  singular  incident  is  related  of  General  Harrington. 
"He  had  been  on  a  visit  to  his  family  in  Richmond  County, 
and  was  returning  with  his  aids  to  his  command  at  Cross 
Creek.  When  not  very  far  from  the  end  of  his  journey, 
and  within  a  mile  or  two  of  M^KayX  a  place  of  public  en- 
tertainment, he  directed  his  aids  to  go  on  there,  turning  off 
himself  from  the  main  road,  to  spend  the  niglit  with  an  old 


*  Sabine's  "  American  Loyalists,"  p.  282. 


398  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

friend.  Early  the  next  morning,  while  on  the  way  to 
M'Kay^s,  and  alonCj  he  was  suddenly  accosted  by  a  man, 
very  near  him,  who,  protected  by  a  tree,  should  the  general 
attempt  to  discharge  his  pistol,  presented  his  gun,  and 
ordered  him  to  dismount.  Thus  taken  by  surprise,  and 
completely  in  the  power  of  the  robber,  there  was  no  alter- 
native but  to  obey  the  command. 

The  general  accordingly  dismounted,  and  asked  what  was 
wanted.  He  was  told  to  deliver  up  his  money.  The  general 
put  down  five  guineas  ;  and  being  questioned,  assured  him 
it  was  all  he  had  on  his  person.  Upon  which,  having  eyed 
alternately  for  a  moment  or  two  the  general  and  the  money, 
turning  the  latter  about  in  his  hand,  he  returned  three  of 
the  guineas,  with  the  remark,  that  their  owner  looked  like  a 
man  who  would  need  some  money  to  get  along  with.  He 
then  told  the  general  to  walk  off,  and  not  attempt  to  mount 
his  horse  or  touch  his  holsters  until  he  had  gone  more  than 
a  hundred  yards,  or  he  would  shoot  him  on  the  spot.  Sub- 
sequently, on  the  removal  of  his  quarters  to  a  point  near 
Wilmington,  this  individual,  with  others,  was  brought  in  a 
prisoner  to  General  Harrington^s  camp.  They  immediately 
recognised  each  other,  but  without  any  expression  of  the 
fact,  until  after  this  man,  with  several  other  of  the  pri- 
soners, had  been  tried  and  condemned  to  death. 

General  Harrington,  thinking  from  what  had  transpired 
on  the  road,  that  there  were  some  peculiar  circumstances 
connected  with  him,  and  that  he  was  not  the  abandoned 
villain  which  such  an  act  of  highway  robbery  would  seem 
to  indicate,  took  him  aside  and  questioned  him  closely.  In 
explanation  of  his  course,  he  said  that  he  lived  in  a  neigh- 
bourhood where  all  had  taken  British  protection,  or  were 
Tories,  and  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  remain  there 
and  be  anything  else,  pleading  extreme  necessity  for  the 
robbery.  Upon  being  asked  if  he  was  willing  to  swear 
allegiance  to  his  country  and  serve  under  General  Harring- 
ton throughout  the  war,  on  condition  of  his  life  being 
spared,  he  replied  that  lie  was ;  and  thereupon  took  the 
oath,  and  proved  himself  ever  after  faithfully  devoted  to  the 
general,  and  a  true  soldier  of  liberty. 

After  the  war,  General  Harrington  was  elected  a  member 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  309 

of  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina^  and  in  that  and  other 
positions  of  trust,  served  his  adopted  State  with  unswerving 
fidelity.  Strongly  inclined,  however,  to  retirement,  he 
rather  avoided  than  sought  the  excitements  and  distinctions 
of  public  life,  and  gave  his  latter  years  to  the  peaceful  pur- 
suits of  agriculture,  the  cultivation  of  the  social  relations, 
and  the  sweets  of  domestic  life.  Happily  constituted  for 
contributing  to  the  endearing  pleasures  of  home,  he  was 
peculiarly  blessed  in  having  to  share  with  him  in  those  de- 
lights, one  who  was  not  more  admired  for  her  understanding 
and  excellence  of  character,  than  beloved  universally  for 
those  beautiful  traits  by  which  the  life  of  w^oman  in  every 
relation  is  adorned. 

In  person.  General  Harrington  was  small,  but  well 
formed  and  handsome.  His  education  was  good,  and  his 
mind  highly  cultivated.  After  a  life  of  eminent  public  ser- 
vice and  private  virtue,  he  died  at  his  seat  in  Richmond 
County,  on  the  31st  of  March,  1809,  in  the  sixty-second 
year  of  his  age ;  spoken  of  in  the  papers  of  the  day,  '^  as  an 
active  and  useful  officer,  who  had  acquired  honor  in  the 
Revolution,  which  secured  to  this  country  its  indepen- 
dence." 

One  of  the  friends  of  his  earlier  and  later  years,  Claudius 
Pegues,  of  INIarlborough,  preceded  General  Harrington  to 
the  tomb.  Mr.  Pegues  was  too  advanced  at  its  commence- 
ment to  take  an  active  part  in  the  war,  presenting  to  his 
country,  however,  a  son,  who  bore  his  name,  to  render  gal- 
lant service  in  that  cause  to  which  he  was  ardently  devoted. 
A  singular  circumstance  is  related  in  connexion  with  his  last 
moments.  Residing  at  the  time  alone,  he  sent  for  both  of  his 
sons,  and  told  them  he  would  die  that  day,  although  walk- 
ing about  the  house,  and  apparently  in  his  usual  health. 
After  conversing  wdth  them  some  time,  and  while  they  were 
talking  together  on  the  subject,  he  took  up  an  arm-chair, 
moved  it  a  little,  and  seating  himself,  quietly  breathed  his 
last. 

Colonel  Maurice  Murphy,  of  whom  such  frequent  and 
honorable  mention  has  been  made,  continued,  after  the  Re- 
volution, to  serve  his  country,  as  opportunity  offered,  to  the 
close  of  his  life.      He  was  a  bad   manager,  and  never  pos- 


400  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

sessecl  much  property.  On  one  occasion,  when  in  Charles- 
town,  he  was  arrested  for  debt,  and  while  in  jail-bounds,  met 
on  the  streets  one  Harrison,  who  had  taken  many  negroes 
from  the  region  of  the  Lower  Pedee  during  the  French  and 
Indian  war,  and  was  then  a  resident  of  St.  Augustine. 
Colonel  Murphy  rushed  on  him  with  his  sword,  saying  that 
he  had  taken  from  him  property  to  a  larger  amount  than 
the  debt  for  which  he  was  then  confined,  and  that  if  he  did 
not  j)ledge  himself  to  cancel  the  debt  and  costs,  he  would 
kill  him  on  the  spot.  Well  knowing  Murj)hy^s  determina- 
tion, the  alarmed  and  con  science- stricken  Harrison  at  once 
acceded  to  the  demand,  and  forthwith  carried  his  promise 
into  execution.  In  passing  Jeffrey^s  Creek,  on  his  return 
from  Charles-town,  it  happening  to  be  a  muster-day.  Colonel 
Murphy  saw  in  the  ranks  one  who  had  been  a  noted  Tory, 
and  by  whom  he  had  probably  been  made  to  suffer.  Excited 
by  the  recollections  of  the  past,  he  leaped  from  his  horse 
and  made  rapidly  towards  him,  the  man  only  escaping  from 
severe  chastisement  or  death  by  instant  flight.  These  in- 
stances show  that  Murphy  was  of  quick  and  ungovernable 
passion;  and  yet,  notwithstanding  the  violence  of  his 
temper  and  occasional  dissipation,  he  maintained  a  cha- 
racter for  generosity  and  integrity,  commanding  always  the 
confidence  of  the  people,  and  ever  retaining  a  high  place  in 
the  popular  regard  for  his  active  and  devoted  services 
throughout  the  war.  There  was  no  more  gallant  or  devoted 
Whig  on  the  Pedee.  In  person  he  was  straight  as  an  arrow, 
rather  bald,  and  of  gi'eat  physical  strength.  His  end  was 
a  sad  one.  Imprisoned  for  debt,  he  died  in  the  jail  at 
Long  Bluff;  a  touching  example  of  the  charge  often  made, 
of  the  ingratitude  of  Republics  ! 

Tristram  Thomas  was  a  name  respected  and  honored  by 
all  classes  on  the  Pedee.  General  Thomas  was  modest  and 
retiring  in  disposition,  but  firm  and  decided  whenever  prin- 
ciple was  involved  in  the  conduct  of  life.  Sturdy  by  habit, 
and  resolute  in  character  as  circumstances  might  demand, 
he  was  happily  fitted  by  nature  for  the  perils  and  labors  of 
the  Revolution.  The  discouragements  to  which  the  actors 
of  that  stormy  period  were  often  subjected,  never  unnerved 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  401 

or  iutimidated  his  soul.  Possessed  of  a  solid  understniiding, 
a  practical  turn  of  mind^  aud  virtuous  priuciples^  he  faithfully 
discharged  the  duties  incumbent  upon  him  in  every  station 
to  Avhich  he  was  called  in  the  administration  of  the  afi'airs 
of  his  own  district  and  the  councils  of  the  State.  He  was 
the  first  Brigadier-General  on  the  Pedee  after  the  war.  He 
lived  to  a  good  old  age.,  universally  esteemed^  and  died  at 
his  residence*  in  Marlborough  District,  in  1817. 

Lemuel  Benton,  the  compeer  of  Thomas,  and  the  succes- 
sor of  Kolb  as  commander  of  the  forces  on  the  Pedee,  was 
a  man  of  very  marked  character.  His  early  opportunities 
of  improvement  were  quite  limited,  but  with  talents  of  a 
superior  order,  and  an  energy  that  flagged  under  no  diffi- 
culties, he  rose  by  the  native  force  of  mind  and  character 
to  a  position  of  commanding  influence.  Ardent  in  feeling, 
aud  of  strong  and  violent  passions,  he  was  a  bitter  enemy 
and  as  fast  a  friend.  He  had  the  peculiar  faculty,  which 
few  possess,  of  gaining  the  confidence  of  the  masses  and 
leading  them  at  will.  As  a  stump-s]3eaker  he  had  no 
superior  in  his  day.  On  more  than  one  occasion  he  con- 
ducted his  own  defence  in  Court  with  signal  success.  This 
talent  as  a  speaker,  with  his  eflScient  military  services,  was 
the  means  of  securing  him  a  seat  in  Congress  as  the  first 
member  from  the  Pedee  District.  He  encountered  a  strong 
opponent  in  a  Mr.  Wilson  of  Williamsburg,  a  gentleman  of 
popular  manners  and  influential  connexions,  but  unequal 
to  Colonel  Benton  before  the  people,  and  hence  doomed  to 
defeat.  Previously  to  this  election  Colonel  Benton  had 
been  returned  as  one  of  the  first  two  members  of  the  Legis- 
lature from  Darlington.  At  the  next  canvass  for  Congress, 
two  years  after,  he  was  opposed  by  Benjamin  Huger,  of 
George-town,  aud  defeated.  The  fact  that  he  had  opposed 
Mr.  Adams's  administration  probably  contributed  to  this 
result.  His  career  as  a  public  man  was  now  closed. 
Colonel  Benton  was  about  six  feet  in  height,  stout,  but  well 
formed,  and  of  handsome  and  commanding  person.  He 
died  at  his  residence  in  Darlington  about  the  year  1819. 


*  General  Thomas  lived  at  the  place  now  known  as   Ellerbe's  Mills,  near  the 
public  road  leading  from  Society  Hill  to  Bennetsville. 

D    U 


402  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Colonel  George  Hicks  survived  tlie  Eevolution  several 
years^  though  advanced  in  age.  From  the  time  of  his  emi- 
gration to  the  Pedee  he  took  a  high  position  in  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  the  people.  He  was  distinguished  for 
purity,  benevolenccj  and  general  excellence  of  character. 
Remarkably  considerate  and  humane,  conscientious  and  faith- 
ful in  the  discharge  of  every  trust,  his  course  through  life 
was  such  as  to  inspire  universal  regard,  and  to  call  forth 
the  unafiected  regrets  of  all  classes  at  his  departure  from 
earth.  His  name  never  ceased  to  be  mentioned  with  affec- 
tionate veneration  by  those  of  his  contemporaries  who  sur- 
vived him — an  example  of  the  kind  which  has  seldom  been 
known. 

A  name  which  should  ever  be  remembered  with  respect 
by  the  descendants  of  the  Whigs  of  St.  David^s,  is  that  of 
Joshua  Ammons.  Of  humble  pretensions  through  life,  this 
man  won  for  himself  a  position  second  to  no  other  for  active 
and  unceasing  devotion  to  the  cause  of  liberty.  He  emi- 
grated from  Maryland  and  settled  before  the  war  in  what 
is  now  Marlborough  District,  but  a  few  miles  from  the  pre- 
sent county  seat.  No  one  on  the  Pedee,  perhaps,  took  a 
more  varied  part,  or  at  more  distant  points  in  the  revolu- 
tionary struggle.  He  appears  to  have  been  almost  ubiqui- 
tous. Engaged  actively  in  the  partisan  warfare  under 
Marion;  then  in  the  Continental  line ;  in  most  of  the  battles 
of  Carolina,  and  under  Lafayette's  command  when  hasten- 
ing to  join  Washington  before  York-town,  he  was  continu- 
ously in  the  field,  acting  most  of  the  time  as  orderly-ser- 
geant. It  was  while  on  the  march  of  Lafayette,  between 
Charlottesville  and  Scottsville,  Virginia,  when  he  encountered 
the  British  army  which  had  been  stationed  on  the  route  to 
intercept  his  progress,  that  the  gallant  Frenchman  received 
a  severe  wound.  Mr.  Ammons  happened  to  be  near  the 
person  of  the  general  when  he  fell,  and  was  the  first  to 
reach  him.  He  bore  his  commander  from  the  field,  placing 
him  under  the  shade  of  a  tree.  In  1824,  when  Lafayette 
visited  America  as  the  nation's  guest,  and  journeyed  to  the 
southward,  Joshua  Ammons,  with  many  others,  hastened 
to  the  North  Carolina  line  to  meet  the  noble  old  chief. 
He  was  introduced  to  Lafayette  as  a  soldier  of  the  Revolu- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS.  403 

tion,  and  one  who  had  borne  him  from  the  field  when  he 
Avas  wounded  near  Scottsville.  The  name  Avas  still  familiar 
to  his  ear,  but  the  person  of  the  humble  soldier  forgotten. 
But  this  did  not  matter.  The  past  rushed  upon  him  in  an 
instant  and  thrilled  his  soul.  Recognising  in  the  lowly 
individual  before  him  the  bold  and  faithful  supporter  on  the 
battle-field,  he  embraecd  him  as  a  friend,  and  invited  him 
to  head-quarters.  There,  doubtless,  they  communed  in 
spirit,  calling  up  stirring  reminiscences  of  the  times  that 
tried  men's  souls,  and  passing  again,  though  in  the  evening 
of  life,  through  the  throes  of  struggling  liberty  in  which 
they  had  participated  as  youthful  combatants.  The  exploits 
of  Joshua  Ammons  would  make  an  extended  narrative  if 
written  out  in  full.  Daring  almost  to  a  fault,  he  shrank 
from  no  danger,  nor  shunned  any  responsibility.  Prison 
ships  presented  no  terrors  to  his  dauntless  soul,  nor  did  a 
view  of  the  gallows  affect  his  nerves.  He  lived  to  a  very 
advanced  age,  and  passed  away  amid  the  grateful  benedic- 
tions of  the  descendants  of  those  with  whom  he  had  fought 
in  unw^avering  devotion  to  his  country.'^ 

Another  name  which  has  no  place  in  history,  and  is  now 
unknown  in  the  region  where  he  lived,  deserves,  in  one 
respect  at  least,  the  first  place  in  the  annals  of  the  Pedee, 
if  not  in  the  story  of  the  Revolution  throughout  the  thirteen 
colonies.  Jacob  Brawler  gave  his  own  life  and  the  lives  of 
twenty-two  sous  to  the  cause  of  liberty  in  Carolina.  He 
removed  from  Tar  River,  North  Carolina,  to  Liberty  Pre- 
cinct, and  settled  on  Cat  Fish,  sixteen  miles  below  the 
present  village  of  Marion.  He  was  married  twice,  and  had 
large  families  by  both  wives,  of  whom  all  were  sons,  except 
one,  a  daughter.  After  the  fall  of  Charles-town,  some  of 
his  sons  were  drafted  :    but  the  old  man  said  there  should 


*  When  Lee's  "  Memoirs  of  the  Southern  Campaign  "  first  appeared,  Mr. 
Ammons  read  the  book  with  absorbing  interest.  His  running  comments  are 
said,  by  an  intelligent  fi-iend  and  neighbour,  who  was  often  with  him  at  the  time, 
to  have  been  extremely  interesting  and  instructive.  Many  statements  he  cor- 
rected, the  memory  of  numerous  incidents  was  recalled,  and  the  most  varied 
emotions  were  excited  by  the  perusal.  It  seemed  to  revive,  as  an  expiring  flame, 
the  spirit  of  '76 — a  flame  which  continued  to  burn  in  him  with  enthusiastic 
devotion  to  liberty,  dear  in  the  recollection  of  its  early  conflicts,  until  ex- 
tinguished in  death. 

D   D   2 


404  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    dlEExVWS. 

be  no  division  among  them,  that  if  one  went,  all  should  go, 
and  that  he  would  accompany  them.  Twenty-four  in  all, 
they  embarked  in  the  strife,  and  almost  incredible  to  relate, 
but  one  of  the  sons  returned  to  tell  the  tale  of  their 
slaugliter.  Overwhelmed  by  the  calamity,  the  frantic  wife 
and  mother  went  oflP,  not  knowing  whither,  in  search  of  her 
loved  ones,  but  only  to  return,  after  a  fruitless  search,  a 
broken-hearted  mourner.  She  was  eventually  put  upon  the 
parish,  and  lived  to  old  age.  The  surviving  son,  who  was 
of  weak  mind  and  body,  died  a  few  years  after,  and  the 
name  became  extinct  in  Marion.^ 

With  the  close  of  1783,  the  Revolution  may  be  said  to 
have  ended  in  Carolina.  The  long  and  anxious  struggle 
was  then  over.  And,  with  returning  peace,  prosperity  came. 
Again  attention  Avas  to  be  turned  to  the  material  develop- 
ment of  the  State,  to  the  subject  of  education,  and  other 
departments  of  progress.  The  halls  of  justice,  long  silent, 
were  to  be  re-opened ;  and  now  that  those  who  had  been 
sorely  oppressed,  were  to  be  henceforth  free  and  independent, 
they  were  to  feel,  in  the  work  and  fruits  of  peace,  the  full 
measure  of  the  responsibilities  assumed,  when  they  solemnly 
pledged  to  each  other  their  lives,  their  fortunes,  and  their 
sacred  honor. 

The  following  very  imperfect  list  collected  from  the 
Archives  of  the  State,  will  give,  in  addition  to  those  already 
mentioned,  embracing  also  some  of  them,  the  names  of  not  a 
few  others  on  the  Pedec,  who  took  part  in  the  war,  and  may 


*  This  account,  wliich  may  appear  almost  incredible,  was  related  to  the  Author 
by  the  late  Hugh  Godbold,  of  Marion,  and  confirmed,  in  every  particular,  by 
William  Shaw,  a  humble  but  worthy  and  respectable  man,  who  was  of  age  at 
the  time,  lived  in  the  same  neighbourhood,  and  knew  the  family  of  Brawler  well. 
Mr.  Shaw  was  born  in  March,  1759,  and  in  the  spring  of  1859,  when  the  Author 
spent  a  night  with  him  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Godbold,  was  possessed  of  astonishing 
vigor  of  body  and  mind  for  one  of  his  years.  Neither  his  siglit  nor  hearing  was 
very  seriously  impaired.  He  sat  up  to  a  late  hour,  listening  with  unabated  in- 
terest to  a  conversation  about  the  early  days  of  the  Pedee,  taking  part  himself, 
and  was  as  cheerful  as  a  man  in  his  prime.  He  said  a  red  oak  was  then  living 
which  stood  in  Brawler's  yard.  Brawler  was  poor,  but  ingenious.  He  adopted 
the  following  method  of  catching  bears : — Driving  sharp  nails,  pointing  down- 
ward, in  a  bee-gum,  he  baited  it  at  the  bottom,  having  secured  it  well.  The " 
bear,  putting  his  head  down,  would  be  caught  beyond  the  possibility  of  extrica- 
tion. William  Shaw  had  passed  his  hundredth  year  when  the  Author  saw  him  for 
the  first  and  last  time ;  and,  considering  his  activity,  was  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable cases  of  longevity  on  record. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 


405 


fitly  bring  this  narrative  of  the  Rcvolutiou  to  a  close. 
Other  services  -were  doubtless  rendered  by  most^  if  not  all 
of  those  included  in  this  list.  Many  either  neglected  or 
declined,  after  the  Revolution,  to  present  any  account 
against  the  State ;  while  a  large  number  of  those  who  lost 
their  lives  during  the  struggle,  were  not  afterwards  repre- 
sented. The  records  of  the  Continental  line,  had  they  been 
accessible,  would  have  added  many  more  names.  Frac- 
tional as  it  is,  the  list  here  given  is  well  worthy  of  pre- 
servation. 


Allen,  Jeremiah,  lieutenant  of  Militia,  in        .      .      . 
Ammons,    John,    private    in    Caj)t.   Thos.    Parrot^s 

Company  of  Horse 

Ammons,  Thomas,  private,  in 

Andi'ews,  John,  adjutant  of  Col.  Hicks's  Regt.  from 

Feb.  to  Nov 

Arnold,  William,  private,  in 

Askew,  John,  „         under  Marion     .      .      .      . 

Ayer,  Hartwell  „        in 

Bacot,  Samuel,  1st  Lieut,  in  Marion^s  Brigade,  in    . 

Benton,  Lemuel,  private  in  Benton^s  Regt.  „ 

Beasley,  Daniel         „ 

Beasley,  William     „ 

Berry,  Wm.,  sergeant,  in      .      .      . 

Bird,  Wm.,  private         „       .      .      . 

Blackwood,  Abram,  private,  in  . 

Blakcney,  John,  sergeant  in  Marion' 

Blakeney,  Robert,  private  „ 

Blakenev,  Thomas       „       „        ■      ■ 


Benton's  Regiment 


Bozeman,  John  „ 

Bryant,  Gray  „ 

Bryant,  Hardy  „        „ 

Burkitt,  Ephraim        „        „ 

Burkitt,  Samuel  „        „ 

Butler,  John,  Captain 

Caiupbell,  James,  sergeant,  in 

Cassity,  Zachariah,  private  in  Benton's 

Champ,  Richard  , 

Cherry,  William  „        „    ]\Iarion's  Brigade 


Brig-ade 


Regiment 


1782 


1780 

1782 

1778 

1782 


1783 
1781 


1782 


406  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Clark^  Harman,  private  in  Marion's  Brigade  .      .      .      1782 

Clayton,  Lawrence       „       „       . „ 

Clements,  Joseph         „       „ j, 

Coker,  Benjamin  „„..,....         „ 

Coker,  Nathan  },       ,, „ 

Coker,  Thomas  „       „ 1781 

Cole,  James,  sergeant  and  private 1782 

Coleman,  James,  private,  in „ 

Coleman,  John  „        „ „ 

Collier,  John  „        „ „ 

Conn,   Thomas,   adjutant    and  private   in    Benton''s 

Regiment 1781 

Cone,  Matthew,  private,  in 1782 

Conner,  James  })      j} )} 

Cook,  William,  sergeant  and  private  in  Continental 

line 

Council,  William,  private  under  Marion    ....        „ 

Courtney,  Stephen       „       in „ 

Coward,  William         „        „ 1780-81-82 

Cox,  Emanuel  ,.       „ „ 

Cox,  James  „        „ „ 

Cox,  John                      „        „   Capt.  Standard's  Com- 
pany, Benton's  Regiment 1781 

Cox,  Josiah,    private  in  Capt.  Moses  Pearson's  Comp.      1782 
Cox,  Samuel,      ,,        „  „  „  „  „ 

Cox,  William     „        „  „  ,-,  „  „ 

Croker,  James    „       „ 1780-82 

Daniel,  Aaron    „        „ „ 

Daniel,  John       „        „ „ 

Darby,  Jacob      „        „ „ 

David,  Azariah   „        „ 1782-83 

„       Ezekiel   „        „  Marion's  Brigade  ....      1782 
„       John,  sergeant  and  lieutenant  alternately       1779-82 
„       Joshua,  private,  Capt.  Thomas  Ellerbe's  Com- 
pany, Hicks's  Regiment 1780 

Davis,  John,   private,  in 1782-83 

Davis,  Thomas      „        „ },      ,, 

Davis,  William     „        „         1782 

Dewitt,  Charles,  second-lieut.  in  Marion's  Brigade    1781-82 
Dewitt,  Martin 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  407 

Dial,  John,  private,  iu 1782 

Doney,  Peter,  private,  in „ 

Douglass,  Jesse       „       „ 1781-82 

Douglass,  Joshua     „        „ „      » 

Du  Bose,  Andrew    „        „      Benton^s    Regiment     in 

1780,  and  captain,  in 1781 

Du  Bose,  Daniel 

Du  Bose,  Elias,  lieutenant  and  private 

Du  Bose,  Isaac,  private,  iu  Mahan's  Cavalry  Regiment      1782 

Du  Bose,  Samuel 

Du  Bose,    William,    sergeant,    Benton^s    Regiment, 

Marion^s  Brigade 

Duling,  James,  private,  in 1782 

Duling,  John  „        „ „ 

Ellerbc,  Thomas,  captain,  in 1781-82 

Ellcrbe,  William,  private,  „ 1782 

Evans,  Benjamin        „       under  Major   Amos  W^ind- 

ham 

Evans,  Burwell,  private,  in „ 

Evans,  Enoch,     first-lieut.,    Capt.   Irby's    Company, 

Hicks's  Regiment,  siege  Charles-town    .      .      .      1780 
Evans,   Ezer,   private,  in  Captain   Irby^s   Company, 

Hicks's  Regiment,  siege  Charles-town    ...         „ 

Evans,  George,  lieut.,  in 1781-82 

Evans,  John,      private,  in 1782-83 

Evans,  Josiah  „        „     Benton^s  Regiment     .      1781-82 

Evans,  Thomas       „        „     Hicks's    Regiment,    siege 

Charles-town 1780 

Evans,  William 

Fort,  jNIoses,  private,  Irby's  Company,  Hicks's  Regi- 
ment, siege  Charles- town „ 

Faulkner,  John,  private,  under  Marion 

Fountain,  William,  private,  in 1783 

Flowers,  John  „        „ 1782 

Fitzpatrick,  James          „        ,, „ 

Ford,  Albert  „        „ 1781-82 

Frasher,  —  ,,        ,> ^    » 

Fuller,  John  „        „ „ 

Farmer,  Zachariah         „        ,, „ 

Gardner,  Stephen  „        „ „ 


408  HISTOllY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Garduer^  William^  private  in 1782 

Gay,  — ,  lieutenant      „ 1781-82 

Gibson,  Thomas,  sen.,  private,  in „ 

Gibson,  Thomas,  jun.        ,,        „ „ 

Gillespie,  James,  sergeant.  Martinis  Troop,  Sumpter's 

Brigade 
Gillespie,  Samuel,  private,  Robuck's  Eegiment 

Goodson,  Arthur           „        in 1782 

Goodson,  Thomas         „        „ „ 

Goodwyn,  Britain         „        „ „ 

Goodwyn,  David           „        „ „ 

Goodwyn,  Lewis           „        ,, „ 

Gregg,  James,    captain,    Britton's   Neck    Regiment, 

Colonel  Ervin 
Griffith,  Joseph,  captain 

Grimes,  James,  private,  Irby's  Company,  Hick^s  Re- 
giment, siege  Charles-town 1780 

Hagin,    David,    private,  in  Benton's  Regiment      .      .  1782 

Hales,  Silas             „        „ ,, 

HarraU,  Levi           „        „ „    . 

Harrington,  Wm.  Henry,  commanding  South  Caro- 
lina Militia,  both  sides  of  Pedee,  November      .  1780 

Harrison,    Henry,  private,  in 1782 

Hendley,  Jesse              „        „ „ 

Hendricks,  William,  captain,  Marion's  Brigade    .      .  „ 

Hewstess,  James,  sergeant „ 

Hicks,  George,  colonel 1779-80-81 

Hickson,  John,  private,  in 1782 

Hindley,  Edward    „       „  Benton's  Regiment 

Hinds,  John,    lieut.  and  private,  in „ 

Hines,  Samuel      „                  )>        ,, „ 

Hinson,     Claybm-n,    commanding    detachment    j)ri- 

soners  to  Long  Bluff April,  1781 

Hinson,  William,  private.  Round  O  Company  Militia  1779 

Hird,  John,  lieut.,  in 1782 

Hodge,  Elias,  private,  in 1779 

,*       Isham,    private      under     Major     Tristram 

Thomas,  Hicks's  Regiment 1780 

„        James,  private  under   Lieut.  John  Pledger, 

Murphy's  Regiment 1782 


HISTORY    or    THE    OLD    CIIEEAWS.  409 

Hodge,  John,  private  in  Capt.  Standard's  Company, 

Ilicks's  Regiment 1780-81 

„       Joseph,  private  nnder  Major  Thomas,  and  in 

Ilicks's  Regiment,  in 1782 

„       Robert,   sergeant,   Captains   Standard's    and 

Pearson's  Companies,  Benton's  Regt.        1780-82 

„       Thomas,  private,  in 1783 

„       Welcome,     sergeant,    Benton's     Regiment, 

siege  Charles-town 1780 

Hollis,  Moses,  lieut.,  in 1783 

Hnbbard,  Noah,  private,  in 1782 

Huekaby,  Isham,  sergeant  and  private,  in       .      .      .  „ 
„         Samuel         „                    „„....„ 

„         Thomas,  private,  in „ 

Huggins,  John,  captain,  Col.  Hugh  Giles'  Regt.       .  1779 

Hunt,  Criswell,  private,  Benton's  Regiment 

Irby,   Edmund,   captain,    Hicks's  Regt.,  M'Intosh's 

Brigade,  siege  Charles-town 1780 

Irby,  Charles,  commissary 1782 

Jackson,  John,  lieutenant,  in „ 

„        Stephen,  captain,  Kolb's  Ptegiment  .      .      .  1780 

„        Stephen,  junr.,  private,  in 1782 

„        William                    „        „ „ 

James,  Alexander,  lieut.,  in „ 

„       George,  private      „ ,, 

„     .  James          „          ,, „ 

Jenkins,  Charles     „          „ „ 

„        James        „          „ „ 

„        Reuben,  lieutenant  and  private    ....  „ 
Jinkins,  James,  lieutenant  in  Benton's  Regiment      .  „ 
John,  Azel,    private,  Benton's  Regiment  ....  1782 
„      Jesse          „                    „                      ....  1783 
„     Thomas      „                    „                      ....  1782 
Johnson,  John    „      Capt.  Standard's  Company,  Ben- 
ton's Regiment         1781 

Johnston,  John,  private 1782 

Jolley,  Joseph          „         „ 

Jones,  Edward,  Captain   of  Guard,  Kolb's  Ferry      1780-83 

„      James,     private 1782 

William       „  


410  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

Keil,  William,  private 1782 

Keith,  Cornelius     „  „ 

Kennedy,  Stephen  „  „ 

Kilgore,  Henry       „  „ 

Kirby,  James  „  „ 

Knight,  Niglet       „  „ 

Kolb,  Benjamin,  Benton^s  Regiment 1781 

„      John,  sergeant  and  corporal 1780-81 

„     Peter,  private,  in 1782 

Large,  David     „      „ „ 

Lee,  William     „       „ „ 

Lide,  Robert,  Major,  Marion's  Brigade 

Lowther,  Edward,  private  in 1781-82 

Lowry,  Robert  „        „    Marion's  Brigade      .       „      „ 

Luke,  Owen  „        „         „ 

Lundy,  Drewry  „        „         1781 

John  ^  „        „         1781-82 

Lyons,  Guthridge,  captain,  Benton's  Regiment      .      .      1781 

„       William,  private 1781-82 

Mario,  James  „  1782 

Mannings,  James  „  „ 

Marsh,  John  Lewis  „         Benton's  Regiment      .      1781 

Martin,  Jeremiah  „  „  „  .         „ 

„       William  „  ,,  „  .         „ 

Mason,  Charles,  commissary  under  Marion,  and  private      1782 

„       Joseph,      private,  in „ 

M'Call,  George         „         under  Marion     ....         „ 

„         Henry,  sergeant  of  horse 1 782-83 

„         John,  lieut.  and  private,  Marion's  Brigade      1781-82 

„         William,  private  in 1782 

M'Carter,  James        „        „ 

M^Cullogh,  George,  captain,  in 

McDonald,  John,      private     „ 

M'Dowell,  Samuel        „  „ 

M^Gee,  James  „         „ 

M'Intosh,  Alexander,  captain,  Benton's  Regiment      1781-82 

"  Lacklin,  private,  in 1782 

„           William          „         Captain  Nelson's  Com- 
pany, Marion's  Brigade 1781-82 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  4 1  1 

M'lver,  Evandei%  private  and  clerk  in  Captain  Irby's 

Company,  Hick's  Regiment,  M'lntosh^s  Brigade  1780 

M'Muldi-ougli,  Andrew,  private,  in 1782 

,,             Hngli,  sergeant-major,  in    ...      .  „ 

James  „  „....„ 

„             AVilliam,  lieutenant        „     .      .      .      .  „ 

M'Natt,  Joel,  private.  Murphy's  Regiment,  Marion's  „ 

Brigade „ 

„       jNIaekey,  private „ 

Mikell,  James            „             „ 

„        John,  jun.,  licut,  and  private,  Marion's  Bri- 
gade          1780-82 

Miles,    William,    private,  in 1782 

Mixon,  Maraday        „       under  Lieut.  John  Rushing, 

Benton's  Regiment,  at  Long  Bluff,  in     .      .      .  1783 

„      Samuel,  private  in 1782 

Moody,  Andrew  „  Captain  Standard's  Com- 
pany, Benton's  Regiment 1781 

„      Roderick,  private  in  Captain  Standard's  Com- 
pany, Benton's  Regiment „ 

Moore,  Gully,  private,  in '.      .  1782 

„         Jeremiah    „       „ ,, 

Munnerlyn,  James,  lieutenant 

Mui-phy,  Maurice,  captain  in  Hick's  Regiment,  in 
1779-80,  major,  in  1780-81,  and  lieut.-col.  com- 
manding, in 1781-82 

Murray,  William,  private,  in 1782 

Nettles,  George  „  „  Pedee  Regiment,  Ma- 
rion's Brigade 1780-82 

Nettles,  Joseph,  private,  in 1779-82 

„        Robert       „        „    Marion's  Brigade 

Noland,  William     „        „ 1782 

Northent,  William  „        „ „ 

Norwood,  John,  captain  in  Marion's  Brigade,  in       .  „ 

„           Samuel,  private,  in „ 

Nugent,  Thomas          „       „ „ 

O'Neal,    John,    commissary   of    detachment    under 

Col.  Benton,  in „ 

Outlaw,  Benjamin,  private,  in „ 

Parker,  Moses  „         „ 1781-82-83 


412  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    GHERAWS. 

Parrott,  Thomas,  Captain  of  Horse,  in       ....      1782 

Pasley,  Robert,  captain,  in 1781 

Pearson,  Aaron,  private  „ 1782 

„  Moses,  lieutenant  in  Hick's  Regiment,  in 
1780,  and  captain  in  Benton's  Regiment,  Ma- 
rion's Brigade,  in      1781-82 

Perkins,  David,  private,  in 1782 

„        Isaac,  sergeant  „ ,, 

„        Lewis,  private   „ „ 

„        William     „        „ 

Pigot,  John,  sergeant,  in „ 

„      Nathanael,  private,  in ,, 

Pledger,  John,  lieutenant  in  Marion's  Camp,   1781- 
82,  and    lieutenant   commanding  in  Murphy's 

Regiment,  in J^^ly,  1^82 

Poke,  Daniel,  private,  in „ 

„      John  „         „ „ 

„      Luke  „        „ 

Pouncey,  Anthony,  quarter-master,  in        ....      1780 
Powe,  Thomas,  commissary.  Hick's  Regiment      .      .         „ 

Powers,  Nicholas,  private,  in 1782 

Preswood,  Jonathan,  sergeant,  in „ 

„  Thomas,  private         ,, „ 

Purvis,  Alexander        „  „ „ 

„       Gilbert  „  „ 

„       John,  lieut.-coL,  in 1780 

Raburn,  John,  private.  Captain  Daniel  Spark's  Com- 
pany          1779-80 

Raspberry,  John,  private,  in 1782 

Rasher,  Michael  „        „ 

Rawlinson,  John  ,,       „     Benton's  Regiment 

Rivers,  Frederick         „       :,, 

Roan,  William  „       „ 

Roberts,  Philip  ,>       » 

Rogers,  Edward  „       „ 

Rouse,  Neal  ),       „ 

Rushing,  John,    lieutenant,   Benton's   Regiment,  at 

Long  Bluff,  in 1782-83 

Russell,  Stephen,  sergeant  and  private,  in       .      .      .      1782 
Sansbury,  Daniel,  private,  in       ....'..      1781-82 


HISTORY    OF    TPIE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  413 

Saunders,  Natlianael,  lieutenant  and  private  under 

Benton,  in 1780-81 

Sellers,  William,  private,  in 1782 

Sexton,  Edward,         „       „ 1782 

Shoemake,  Samuel    „       „ 

Simons,  David,  sergeant,  in 

„        Samuel,  private  „ 

Smith,  Charles      „    „  Capt.  Thomas  Ellerbe''s  Comp. 
„       John,  private  „  „ 

„        Richard    „  „  „ 

„       Jeremiah,  private,  in  Andrew  Du  Bose's  and 
Thos.  Ellerbe^s   Companies,  Benton^s  Regiment 

Sparks,  Daniel,  captain,  in 1781-82 

Spears,  David,  private,  in 

Standard,  \Yilliam,  captain  in  Benton^s  Regiment     1781-82 
Spencer     Calvin,     assistant      quartermaster-general, 

June  to  August        1780 

Stanley,  Shadrack,  private,  in 1782 

Starks,  Henry  „        „ 

Stephens,  John  „        „ 

Strofcher,  George,  lieutenant,  in 

Teal,  Edward,  private,  in 

Terrell,  Edward    „         „ 

„       James,    lieutenant,     Benton^s    Regiment   at 

Long  Bluff 1783 

„       Samuel,  lieutenant,  in     .      ,      .      .      .      1781-82-83 
Thomas,  Tristram,    captain    in    Hick's,  Kolb's,    and 
Benton's  Regiments,  1780-81,  and  major  in  Ben- 
ton's Regiment 1781-82 

Thorp,  Eleazer,  private,  in 1782 

Tootles,  Obed  „       „ „ 

Tow^nsend,  Light    „       „       Benton's  R,egiment         .         „ 

Veal,  John  „        „ 

Yiekers,  Jacob         „        „ 

Yining,  Jesse  „        „ 1782-83 

Waddeli,  Abel         „        „ 1781 

Warwick,  Abraham,  private,  in 1782 

Watkins,  Samuel  „      under  Capt.  Amos  Windham 

Weaver,  Hartweil,  private,  in 

White,  James,  private,  in 1782 


414        HISTORY  OF  THE  OLD  CHE  RAWS. 

Wliittington,  Barnett^  private,  in 1782 

Ephraim,  lieut.,  Beutou's  Regt.,  in  1781-82-83 

„  Francis,  private  in 1 782 

))  ije\i  ,,        ,, „ 

„  Natlianael  „        „ „ 

„  Richard       „        „ „ 

Vv'ilds,  Abel,  private,  in „ 

„      Jesse,  lieutenant,  in „ 

„      Samuel,  private,  in 1782 

Williams,  Daniel,  captain  in  Benton's  Regiment,  in  .  1781 

Williamson,  Jesse,  private,  Marion's  Brigade       .      .  1782 
„            Shadrach,  lieutenant  and  private,  in      .         „ 
_,,            Stephen 

„  Sterling,  private,  in „ 

,,  William         ,,       „ „ 

Willis  „       „ 

Wir.gate,  Edward  ),       >> „ 

Windham,  Amos,  captain  under  Kolb,  and  major,  in         „ 
„        Jesse,    private 

.,       William      „  1782 

Wise,  James  „  „ 

„      William  „  „ 

Wood,  Benjamin  „  „ 

Woodward,  Thomas    „  „ 

Wright,  Amos,  private,  Capt.  Amos  Windham's  Com- 
pany           „ 

„        Gillis,  private „ 

„        Joseph      „  „ 

„         Solomon,  private,   Capt.  Windham's    Com- 
pany   

Yates,  William,  private „ 

Youngblood,  David,  private „ 

„  Peter,  captain .         „ 


HISTORY   OF   THE   OLD    CIIKRAWS.  415 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Members  of  Legislature  elected  for  St.  David's  Parish — Petition  of  Elizabeth 
Mitchell,  and  action  of  Legislature  thereon — Petition  of  Robert  Allison — 
Relief  extended — Elections  for  Cheraws  District — First  Circuit  Court  at 
Loug  Bluft"  after  the  Revolution — Charge  of  Judge  Grimke — Presentments 
of  grand  jury — Tobacco  inspectors  appointed  for  Cheraws  — Ordinance  for 
opening  navigation  of  the  Pedee — Commissioners  appointed — Ordinance  of 
following  year — Commissioners — Course  of  Legislation  on  the  subject — 
Elections  to  Legislature  for  St.  David's — Captain  Dewitt  resigns  his  seat — 
Re-elected — County  Court  Act — St.  David's  Parish  divided  into  three  counties 
— Boundary  lines — Provisions  of  the  Act — County  Justices  for  Marlborough, 
Chesterfield,  and  Darlington — Locations  made  for  the  several  county  sites— ■ 
Prevailing  crime  at  that  day — Presentment  of  County  Court  for  Chester- 
field— Burning  of  records  in  Darlington  County — Practising  lawyers  in  St. 
David's — Names  of  counties — Greenville,  why  so  called — St.  David's  Society 
revived — Its  history — Teachers  —  Thomas  Park — Life  and  character — 
Members  of  St.  David's  Society — Notices  of  Welch  Neck  Church — Removal 
of  church  building — Account  of  William  Falconer — Other  settlers  in  Cheraw 
District  after  the  Revolution, 

The  state  of  public  affairs  urgently  demanded  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Legislature,  which  was  to  meet  in  January, 
1783.  At  an  election  holden  for  members  on  the  25th  and 
26th  of  November,  jSIajor  Tristram  Thomas  was  returned 
Senator;  and  Lemuel  Benton,  Thomas  Powe,  William 
Pegues,  William  Strother,  William  Dewitt,  and  Claudius 
Pegues,  jun.,  INIembers  of  the  House  for  St.  David's. 

"  On  the  loth  of  February,  was  received  the  petition  of 
Elizabeth  JMitchell,  widow  of  John  Mitchell,  in  behalf  of 
herself  and  the  heirs  and  devisees  of  her  deceased  husband, 
setting  forth,  that  he  had  been  dead  almost  two  years,  and 
left  his  estate,  real  and  personal,  to  herself  and  children — 
that  she  had  observed,  with  concern,  that  his  estate  was  con- 
fiscated by  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  begged 
leave  to  state,  that  for  many  years  preceding  his  death,  her 
husband  was  of  very  distracted  mind,  and  if  he  had  been 
guilty  of  any  acts  to  occasion  the  displeasure  of  the  Legis- 
lature, such  misconduct  must  have  been  the  result  of  his 
insanity — that   he   was    confined   frequently  as    an  absolute 


416  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

madman — that  he  never  held  any  commission  tinder  the 
British — that  herself  and  the  heirs  are  well  affected  to  this 
State;  and  one  of  the  heirs^  though  a  youth  of  tender 
yearS;  had  lately  turned  out  a  volunteer  in  the  State  ser- 
vice ;  and  she  therefore  prayed  relief  from  the  said  Act  of 
Confiscation^  &c/^  The  petition  was  favorably  received, 
and  relief  extended,  except  as  to  such  part  of  the  estate  as 
would  descend  to  a  daughter  who  had  married  Captain 
Campbell,  a  British  officer. 

On  the  24th  of  February,  the  petition  of  Robert  Ellison 
was  read,  setting  forth  "  that  he  was  an  officer  in  the 
militia  before  the  fall  of  Charles- town,  and  always  exerted 
himself  in  the  service  of  America — that  he  was  made  a  pri- 
soner in  Camden,  and  confined  on  Jameses  island  under 
very  unhappy  circumstances,  and  therefore  prayed  relief 
from  the  penalties  of  an  Act  for  amercing  certain  persons 
therein  mentioned,  &:c."  The  case  of  Mr.  Ellison  seems  to 
have  been  misunderstood.  He  was  consequently  relieved, 
and  continued  to  enjoy  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow-citizens  to  the  close  of  his  useful  life. 

At  this  Session  of  the  Legislature,  Claudius  Pegues,  jun., 
was  elected  Ordinary  for  Cheraws  District,  and  William 
Dewitt,  Sheriff.  The  latter  having  accepted  the  appoint- 
ment, vacated  his  seat  as  a  member  of  the  House.  A  new 
election  was  ordered  for  24th  and  25th  of  March,  and  Peter 
AUston  returned. 

The  first  court  holden  at  Long  Bluff,  after  the  Revolution, 
was  on  the  15th  of  November,  of  this  year.  It  was  an  oc- 
casion of  unusual  interest. 

Judge  Grimke,  who  had  been  appointed  on  the  20th  of 
March  previous,  appeared  for  the  first  time  on  the  Northern 
Circuit,  and  made  it  the  occasion  of  a  timely  and  eloquent 
charge  to  the  grand  juries  which  came  before  him.  The 
feelings  of  animosity,  so  recently  cherished  towards  the 
Tories,  were  deeply  rooted  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  ;  and 
a  disposition  was  manifested  on  the  part  of  many  to  keep  up 
the  distinction,  chiefly  for  the  sake  of  appeals  to  popular 
feeling  in  connexion  with  elections. 

Judge  Grimke  did  not  shrink  from  what  he  conceived  to 
be  his  duty  under  the  circumstances,  and  gave  expression  to 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CIIERAWS.  417 

sucli  wise  counsels,  mingled  with  patriotic  sentiments,  as 
tended  miieli  to  qniet  the  public  mind,  and  convince  the  re- 
flecting classes  of  the  error  and  excess  into  which  many 
had  fallen.  The  Charge,  together  with  the  Presentments  of 
the  Grand  Jury  of  Chcraws,  was  published  in  the  Gazettes 
of  the  day. 

The  most  interesting  chapter  in  our  annals,  perhaps,  ex- 
cept the  account  of  the  struggle  itself,  is  that  of  the  few 
years  preceding  the  Revolution,  and  next,  the  narrative  of 
the  times  immediately  succeeding. 

The  charge  of  Judge  Grimke  was  as  follows  : — 

"  Gentlemen  of  the  Grand  Jury  : 

"  This  being  the  first  time  that  I  have  had  the  honor  of 
addressing  the  grand  jury  of  this  district  in  my  judicial 
capacity,  I  must  confess  I  feel  myself  impressed  with  an 
anxious  awe,  the  offspring  of  diffidence  ;  and  when  I  reflect 
upon  the  respect  due  to  this  place,  upon  the  merits  and 
dignified  stations  of  the  gentlemen  to  w  horn  I  am  delivering 
my  sentiments,  upon  the  honor  conferred  on  me  by  the 
voice  of  my  country,  and  upon  the  important  trusts  com- 
mitted to  my  charge,  the  consciousness  of  my  inexperience 
to  perform  the  momentous  duties  of  my  office  rushes  in 
upon  my  mind,  and  almost  overpowers  my  senses.  But, 
persuaded  of  this  distinguished  mark  of  my  country's  favor, 
of  the  dignity  of  the  office,  and  of  the  importance  of  its  ob- 
ligations, I  perceive  myself  bound  by  the  indissoluble  ties 
of  honor  to  merit  the  confidence  that  has  been  reposed  in  me. 
"  I  will  endeavor  to  regain  those  moments  which  the 
service  of  my  country  employed  during  the  late  war,  in  the 
military  line,  and  by  the  most  unwearied  assiduity,  render 
myself  competent  to  appear  in  this  capacity.  It  shall  be 
my  pride,  always  to  make  the  law  of  the  State  my  rule  in 
the  administration  of  justice,  and  to  aim  at  the  most  im- 
partial and  punctual,  though  merciful  execution  of  them. 
And  the  contemplation  of  the  present  situation  of  this 
country,  excites  an  ardor  in  forming  such  resolutions,  and 
of  carrying  them,  without  delay,  into  execution.  For  the 
war  which  has  for  so  many  years  suspended  our  power  of 
opening  the  courts,  has  delayed  justice  to  the  good  citizens 
of  this  State  ;  and  has   protected  many  daring  offenders  in 

E   E 


418  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

the  outrages  they  have  committed  on  the  public  tranquillity^ 
in  their  violation  of  the  security  of  property,  and  in  the 
repeated  insults  which  they  have  ofiPered  with  impunity  to 
our  inhabitants.  This  intermission  in  the  public  proceed- 
ings of  courts  of  judicature,  has  been  of  so  long  a  con- 
tinuance, and  the  offences  committed  since  the  capitulation 
of  Charles-town  so  seldom  punished,  that  the  idea  of  the 
penalties  affixed  to  the  crimes,  has  been  absorbed  by  the 
familiarity  and  frequency  of  their  occurrence.  Our  be- 
wildered minds  seemed  no  longer  alarmed  at  the  commission 
of  crimes  of  the  first  magnitude ;  and  carnage,  and  all  the 
havoc  of  war  let  loose  upon  our  unfortunate  country,  had 
in  some  degree  hardened  the  hearts  of  the  most  compas- 
sionate amongst  us.  But  I  hope  the  barbarous  mode  in 
which  the  enemy  carried  on  their  war,  and  which  of  neces- 
sity produced  several  instances  of  retaliation  on  our  part, 
has  not  totally  annihilated  the  merciful  dispositions  of  our 
nature,  and  irremediably  tempered  our  minds  to  violence, 
cruelty,  and  oppression.  True  it  is,  that  men  have  long 
exercised  a  habit  of  consulting  their  own  bosoms,  their  own 
resentments,  and  their  own  arms,  for  a  redress  of  injuries  ; 
but  the  impolicy  and  injustice  of  such  appeals  are  too  evi- 
dent to  need  a  comment  thereon. 

"  At  that  period,  indeed,  when  STich  unnatural  and  alien 
principles  were  forced  upon  us  for  our  creed,  and  when  we 
were  compelled  to  adopt  as  the  only  means  of  probable 
salvation  (the  means  which  in  some  instances  were  used), 
perhaps  we  might  stand  exculpated  before  God  and  the 
nations  of  the  earth.  The  convulsions  of  our  country,  the 
desolation  of  our  farms,  the  conflagrations  raging  through 
our  settlements,  and  all  the  ravages  of  our  moveable  pro- 
perty, presented  a  scene  capable  of  agitating  the  minds  of 
men  who  were  not  even  sufferers  in  so  general  a  calamity. 
But,  when  the  cruelties  of  these  refined  barbarians  extended 
themselves  to  the  families  and  relatives  of  our  countrymen 
— when  women  were  upbraided  and  accused  as  guilty  of  a 
crime  for  the  loyalty  of  their  husbands  and  sons  to  our 
great  and  just  cause — when  they  were  turned  out  of  their 
hospitable  dwellings,  deprived  of  every  comfort  and  con- 
veniency  of  life,  robbed  of  their  personal  clothing,  and  even 


HISTORY    or   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  419 

of  the  necessary  covering  to  intercept  tlie  intemperate  ardor 
of  the  sunj  or  the  mighty  falling  dews  of  an  inclement  sky, 
without  any  refnge  or  asylum  than  the  wild  and  desolated 
plains  of  their  country  ;  when  their  cattle,  the  only  resource 
of  sustaicing  themselves  and  infant  families,  during  the  exile 
or  captivity  of  those  to  whom  they  looked  for  succor,  were 
cruelly  driven  into  their  barns,  and  iuhimianly  consumed  by 
fire  Avith  the  buildings ;  when  men,  whose  age  and  infirmi- 
ties alone  should  have  been  their  protection,  and  who  were 
rather  subjects  even  of  an  enemy^s  sensibility  and  com- 
passion ;  I  say,  when  such  men,  who  were  but  lingering  out 
tlie  glimmering  remains  of  a  painful  life,  without  the  addi- 
tion of  any  sharper  misery,  became  the  objects  of  the 
indignation  of  an  enemy,  powerful  and  in  arms,  were 
dragged  from  their  homes,  and  thrust  into  the  sepulchres  of 
our  forefathers ;  when  our  brave  citizens,  who  had  become 
captives  by  the  fortune  of  war,  were  not  allowed  the  usual 
privileges  aunexed  to  this  unfortunate  condition,  but  were 
daily  perishing  for  the  absolute  want  even  of  the  common 
necessaries  to  sustain  their  miserable  lives ;  when  the  most 
repeated  and  violent  infringements  of  the  capitulation  of 
Charles-town  were  not  only  practised,  but  impudently 
avowed ;  when  British  faith  had  become  as  proverbial  with 
us,  as  that  of  the  '  Carthaginians  was  amongst  her  con- 
temporary nations  •/  when  even  the  puerilities  of  our 
children  could  excite  the  malice  of  these  heroes ;  when  the 
disgi'ace  and  disappointment  of  the  panic-struck  Rawdon, 
flying  before  the  terror  of  our  arms,  had  instigated  them  to 
give  a  loose  to  their  fury,  and  to  sacrifice^  though  not  even 
by  their  mock  forms  of  justice,  by  an  ignominious  execution, 
a  martyr  to  our  glorious  cause  ;*  when  their  impious  hands 
were  nqj;  restrained  from  pillaging  the  temples  of  the 
Almighty;  from  disturbing  the  ashes  of  the  dead,  who 
ought  to  be  in  peace;  or  from  polluting  the  sacranaental 
pales  of  the  Holy  Communion,  which  it  is  sacrilege  to 
violate ; — then  were  the  banners  displayed,  which  aroused 
men's  souls  into  action.  Then  it  Avas,  that  we  girded  on 
our    swords,  and   couched   our    quivering   lances.      Then  it 


*  The  noble  and  devoted  Hayne. 

E  E  2 


420  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

was  that  we  became  familiar  with  the  din  of  arms^  embraced 
the  fatigues  of  marches  and  of  the  camp,  and  courted  the 
dangers  of  the  field.  These  were  the  alarms  that  roused 
our  drooping  spirits,  and  quickened  our  hearts  with  an 
enthusiastic  spirit  of  opposition.  At  this  moment,  to  have 
remained  indiflerent  or  neutral ;  to  have  artfully  reasoned 
from  moderate,  peaceable  times,  to  times  which  were  not 
moderate,  and  could  not  be  peaceable  ;  or  to  repose  our  fears 
on  the  soft  lap  of  hope,  would  have  been  deceiving  ourselves. 
For  no  other  alternative  (so  dreadful  was  our  situation)  re- 
mained for  us,  but  to  await  the  assassinating  arm  of  our 
perfidious  foe,  or  resorting  to  the  conditions  of  a  state  of 
nature,  to  assert  the  vindication  of  our  wrongs  by  our  own 
hands.  To  have  been  weak  enough,  affecting  the  hypocriti- 
cal mask  of  moderation,  to  have  silently  and  obediently 
acquiesced  under  such  enormities,  would  have  left  it  pro- 
blematical to  posterity,  whether  our  early  and  national 
character  was  stamped  with  cowardice  or  treachery.  But 
now,  the  scene  is  changed  ;  the  ravages  of  our  country  and 
the  afflictions  of  our  friends  no  longer  excite  the  tumultuous 
passions  of  the  mind.  Our  foe  is  fallen,  and  hath  retired 
with  envy  and  disgrace  to  the  dominions  of  their  tyrants. 
Our  mighty  adversary  has  been  compelled  to  acknowledge 
our  freedom,  our  sovereignty,  and  independence ;  and  we 
now  behold  him  an  humbled  solicitor  at  the  throne  of  the 
dignity  of  our  State  for  a  return  of  our  commercial  favors. 
Pause,  therefore,  at  this  important  and  critical  juncture, 
and  contrast  your  present  situation  with  that  from  which 
you  are  but  just  emerged.  Behold  the  olive  branch  of 
peace  extended  wide  o^er  your  towns  and  fields,  and  all 
yovir  country  reviving  under  its  genial  influence.  Our 
citizens  can  now  in  tranquillity  enjoy  the  sweet  converse  of 
their  families  and  their  connexions,  and  find  a  peaceable 
and  safe  asylum  at  their  own  farms.  They  are  no  longer 
alarmed  by  terror  or  suspense,  but  exercise  their  different 
vocations  without  interruption.  No  longer  are  their  abodes 
infested  by  the  bloody-minded  ruffian,  nor  our  temples 
turned  into  a  den  of  thieves  ;  but  benevolence  and  hospitality 
mark  again  our  plantations,  and  respect  and  piety  our  places 
of  public  worship. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEUAWS.  421 

"  Were  I,  gcutlemcn,  to  pursue  this  theme,  and  enter 
upon  a  description  of  the  relative  and  exalted  station  you 
stand  on  with  the  other  powers  of  the  earth,  it  is  a  subjeet 
yielding  so  much  rapture  to  the  mind  of  the  Americans,  1 
fear  I  should  be  tempted  to  deviate  from  my  original  design. 
With  Avhat  transport  should  I  relate  the  admiration  which 
our  success  has  created  in  the  minds  of  the  distant  nations  ! 
Behold  the  honor  you  are  held  in  by  them,  and  with  what 
ardor  they  gaze  upon  the  new  constellation  with  which  you 
have  enriched  the  political  firmament  1  See  their  glorious 
contention ;  see  how  they  press  to  your  hospitable  shores. 
Look  forward  to  the  immense  empire,  the  work  of  your 
hands,  that  you  are  creating,  and  hearken  to  the  loud  accla- 
mations of  your  posterity,  re-echoed  to  you  by  the  azure 
vault  of  applauding  heaven !  These  are  prospects  that 
attract  as  they  dazzle  our  fascinated  attention.  These  are 
scenes  that  the  intenseness  of  reflexion  can  never  be  wearied 
with !  These,  these  are  the  rewards  of  your  virtue  and 
bravery  ! 

"  But  I  must  leave  this  subject,  though  with  reluctance, 
and  call  your  attention  to  an  object  of  more  immediate  and 
of  very  considerable  importance.  I  have  described  to  you 
the  necessity  there  was  of  our  citizens  assuming  the  reins 
of  justice,  and  of  inflicting  punishment  upon  the  unconvicted 
offender.  I  have  shown  you  what  your  situation  is  at  pre- 
sent compared  with  a  former,  and  reminded  you  that  peace 
was  once  more  diffused  through  our  commonwealth.  This, 
then,  is  a  conjuncture  in  which  it  is  incumbent  on  us  to 
exert  our  abilities.  Here  is  room  for  the  heart  to  conceive, 
and  the  understanding  to  direct.  It  w^ould  be  a  worse  than 
perfidy  united  with  timidity  to  desert  the  state  vessel  which 
we  have  anchored  in  a  safe  haven  after  the  perils  we  have 
voluntarily  endured  for  her  sake,  and  negligently  to  suffer 
her  to  perish  by  a  fatal  indifference  to  her  interests.  Should 
we  grow  remiss  in  our  duty  at  this  period  to  the  Republic, 
we  sacrifice  the  dignity  of  our  country,  and  disgrace  will  be 
brought  upon  us  for  ever. 

"  The  distressed  condition  of  this  country  calls  loudly  for 
the  assistance  of  its  indixiduals,  and  we  have  it  now  in  our 
power  to  prevent  a  longer  delay  of  justice,  and  the  conse- 


422  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

quent  relaxation  of  our  laws.  Therefore  it  becomes  the 
pointed  and  indispensable  duty  of  each  of  our  citizens  to 
endeavor  to  re-establish  the  harmony  and  order  of  our 
community,  and  to  revive  the  good  discipline  of  its  members. 
We  must  resolve,  then,  to  renounce  the  empire  of  the  pas- 
sions, to  correct  that  licentiousness  which  has  pervaded  the 
State,  to  resign  ourselves  to  the  calm  operations  of  our 
judgment,  and  to  embrace  the  temperate  admonitions  of  our 
reason. 

"  The  distempered  emotions  which  alarmed  our  breasts, 
like  the  threatening  meteors  of  the  heavens,  shall  disappear, 
and  our  hearts  resume  their  wonted  serenity.  But,  in  a  more 
particular  manner  does  it  become  you,  gentlemen  of  the 
grand  jury,  to  second  and  support  the  judicial  departments 
in  the  attainment  of  this  important  and  desirable  end.  For 
you  are  selected  by  your  country  for  the  rank  you  hold 
amongst  her  citizens,  and  for  the  superior  understanding 
attendant  on  your  enlightened  stations  of  life.  You  officially 
compose  the  grand  inquest  of  your  district,  and  are  here 
the  representatives  and  guardians  of  its  inhabitants.  It  is 
to  you  that  these,  our  countrymen,  look  up  for  advice  to 
pursue,  and  for  patterns  to  imitate.  AVherefore  it  lies 
much  in  your  abilities,  as  I  make  no  doubt  you  are  excited 
thereto  by  your  inclinations,  to  divest  them  of  prejudice,  to 
instil  into  their  minds  just  and  constitutional  principles,  to 
hold  up  examples  which  may  deter  them  from  evil,  and  to 
impress  them  with  a  proper  sense  of  the  duty  they  owe  to 
their  magistrates,  and  of  the  implicit  obedience  they  should 
pay  to  the  laws  of  their  country.  Were  I  to  undertake 
the  task  of  pointing  out  to  you  minutely,  the  respective 
duties  of  your  office  as  grand  jurors,  I  should  enumerate 
almost  all  the  civil  obligations  of  society  ;  but,  as  I  am  per- 
suaded it  will  be  unnecessary  for  me  to  detail  these  exhor- 
tations to  you,  I  will  leave  you  to  your  own  hearts  and 
consciences ;  the  best  directors,  the  most  irreproachable 
monitors  of  mankind.  Nevertheless,  there  is  one  division 
of  the  duties  which  fall  to  your  lot,  which  I  must  request 
you  to  consider  with  me  in  the  most  impartial  and  dispas- 
sionate manner.      Let  us  not  deceive  ourselves,  and  vainly 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  423 

imagine,  because  our  enemy  is  fled,  that  our  clangers  are 
over.  I  fear  we  have  an  enemy  of  a  more  pernicious  ten- 
dency amongst  us,  Avliom  it  will  require  the  most  obstinate 
resolution  to  overcome.  I  mean  the  dominion  of  the  pas- 
sions, the  gratification  of  our  private  resentment.  It  is 
time,  however  necessary  and  politic  it  was  lately  to  draw  a 
bold  and  visible  line  of  discrimination  between  the  inhabi- 
tants of  this  country,  that  such  a  distinction  should  now  be 
obliterated,  Avholly  and  irrecoverably.  The  terms  of  Whig 
and  Tory  are  no  longer  useful,  and  the  commotions  of  our 
country,  which  gave  rise  to  and  supported  these  denomina- 
tions, having  subsided,  these  popular  characteristics  must  of 
course  be  sunk  also  into  oblivion.  I  will  contend,  that 
there  cannot  at  this  moment  exist  such  characters  as  Tories 
amongst  us ;  for  however  willing  some  men,  inveterate  in 
folly,  might  be,  even  as  yet  to  be  considered  in  that  light, 
the  variation  of  the  condition  of  our  State  will  not  any 
longer  justify  the  appellation.  For  that  person  alone,  in 
my  idea,  may  justly  be  stigmatized  with  toryism,  who 
basely  taking  advantage  of  the  subjugation  of  the  govern- 
ment under  which  he  lived,  during  the  suspension  of  the 
laws  and  the  jurisdiction  of  the  criminal  and  civil  courts, 
who  joined  the  enemies  of  his  country,  and  revelling  in  its 
calamities,  being  sensible  of  his  security  from  punishment, 
exercises  a  wild  and  brutal  dominion  over  his  fellow-citizens, 
depriving  them  illegally  of  their  property,  and  according  to 
the  intemperate  dictates  of  his  passions,  of  their  precarious 
lives.  Wherefore,  then,  since  our  Government  is  re-estab- 
lished, our  laws  in  full  force,  and  offenders  presented  to 
you  for  punishment,  should  we  cherish  so  idle,  so  unprofit- 
able a  discrimination  ?  Is  it  the  quality  of  a  good  citizen, 
or  the  policy  of  a  wise  administration,  to  render  the  inha- 
bitants of  their  country  inimical  to  their  Government  ? 
Surely  not ;  but  if  you  were  industriously  to  keep  up  the 
idea  that  certain  persons  amongst  you  are  Tories,  what  is  it 
but  declaring  that  such  men  are  out  of  the  protection  of 
your  laws,  and  that  a  citizen  would  be  justified  in  putting 
them  to  death  without  the  ceremonies  of  a  trial  ?  "Were 
this  the  case,  in  vain  have  we  contended  for  the  sovereignty 


424  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

of  this  country,  in  vain  have  we  attained  the  independency 
of  our  State,  for  the  will  of  each  individual  is  the  sovereignty 
and  independency  thereof. 

"  It  may  be  inquired  here,  and  with  propriety,  what  right 
have  we,  as  individuals,  to  inflict  punishment  upon  those 
who  have  violated  the  laws,  or  have  injured  us  in  our  per- 
sons or  property  ?  None  but  a  bad  citizen  would  revolt  at 
the  idea  of  appealing  to  the  laws  of  his  country ;  they  are 
our  protection  and  redress.  And  whoever  infringes  them, 
be  he  distinguished  by  the  title  of  Whig,  or  stigmatized  with 
that  of  Tory,  can  find  no  refuge  from  their  justice,  no  escape 
from  the  punishment  annexed  to  their  offence.  Surely 
there  can  be  no  just  distinction  drawn  between  those  who 
violate  the  laws  of  a  country ;  but  the  inhabitants  thereof 
must  be  subject  to  their  operation  equally  as  to  the  certain 
and  immutable  stroke  of  death. 

"  To  hear  the  language  which  has  been  held  forth  upon 
this  subject,  one  would  be  naturally  led  to  believe  that  none 
but  Tories  could  commit  crimes,  or,  at  least,  that  the  same 
actions,  if  committed  by  Whigs,  are  not  only  pardonable, 
but  commendable.  Away  with  such  trivial  distinctions,  and 
let  us  learn  again  to  consider  the  transgressor  of  our  laws  as 
the  only  enemy  of  our  State.  Let  us  reflect  calmly  and 
deliberately  upon  the  offences  of  which  these  persons  stand 
accused.  Black  as  the  catalogue  is  of  rapine  and  murder, 
I  see  no  offence  which  did  not  exist  before  the  commence- 
ment of  the  present  war.  And  were  men,  who  were 
familiarly  guilty  of  these  crimes,  branded  at  that  period 
with  the  appellation  of  Tories  ?  W^hat  !  were  murder  and 
the  various  offences  composing  our  calendar  of  felonies, 
deemed  Toryism  in  that  age  ?  And  were  criminals  punish- 
able unheard  and  uncondemned,  by  the  fiat  of  an  individual, 
barbed,  perhaps,  with  private  revenge  ?  No,  gentlemen, 
however  illegal  their  conduct,  however  enormous  their 
offences,  they  still  had  the  benefit  of  a  fair  trial.  The  only 
reason,  the  impracticability  of  making  examples  of  offenders, 
which  could  justify  the  conduct  of  our  citizens  during  the 
war,  exists  no  longer.  If,  therefore,  notwithstanding  this 
manifest  alteration  in  our  circumstances,  there  are  any  who 
still  dare   industriously  to  irritate  men^s  minds  by  this  dis- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEEAWS.  425 

crimination,  I  shall  class  tlicm  with  those  ofFenders,  artful 
knaves,  who,  despairing  of  mining  our  commonwealth  by 
the  force  of  arms,  sow  the  secret  and  insidious  seeds  of 
jealousy  and  suspicion  amongst  us.  These  are  the  detestable 
weapons  of  designing  men,  whose  ambition  or  avarice  is  not 
yet  sated.  They  but  make  a  plea  of  this  cant  language  to 
embroil  again  in  civil  discord  our  peaceable  citizens,  that 
they,  forsooth,  may  once  more  reap  the  harvest  of  our  con- 
fusion. I  cannot  take  my  leave  of  this  subject  without  re- 
minding you  that  many  of  the  persons  hitherto  designated 
by  the  title  of  Tories,  and  remaining  amongst  us,  have 
thrown  themselves  upon  the  mercy  of  their  country,  and  are 
entitled  to  the  benefit  of  our  laws, 

"  In  future,  therefore,  if  any  man  commits  murder,  or 
robs  a  citizen,  or  perpetrates  any  other  enormous  offence, 
let  him  be  apprehended,  examined  before  a  magistrate,  and 
committed  to  gaol.  Let  him  take  his  trial  by  his  compeers, 
and  be  condemned  by  the  justice,  as  well  as  by  the  voice  of 
his  country.  But,  if  there  is  any  one  so  lost  to  his  duty  as 
to  seek  for  redress  by  an  extra-judicial  vindication  of  his 
wrongs,  or  by  any  other  mode  of  proceeding  more  summary 
than  a  trial  by  jury,  I  will  not  hesitate  to  affirm  that  he  is 
in  effect  a  more  dangerous  enemy  to  the  constitution  of  this 
State  than  the  implacable  adversary  we  have  just  driven 
from  our  shores.  But  here,  then,  I  must  beg  leave  to  assure 
you  that  if  any  citizen  has  been  injured  during  the  late 
British  usurpation  over  this  country,  although  I  will  dis- 
countenance any  man's  arrogating  satisfaction  to  himself  by 
force  of  arms,  that  I  will  use  every  encouragement  in  my 
power  to  bring  the  offender  to  trial,  and  cause  him  to  make 
exemplary  compensation  for  the  injury  committed.  For  the 
pardon,  which  such  men  may  have  received  from  the  Legis* 
lature,  extends  only  to  offences  against  the  Government,  and 
by  no  means  to  injuries  done  to  individuals.  But,  above  all, 
let  us  recollect  our  national  characteristic  of  humanity,  and 
preserve  it  untainted  in  the  bosom  of  peace.  The  enemy, 
because  we  would  not  rival  or  countenance  them  in  their 
barbarities,  during  the  course  of  a  long  and  bloody  war, 
have  uniformly  charged  us  with  a  want  of  spirit.  And 
should  we   not  give  them  just  reason  to   suppose  that  the 


426  HISTORY  OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

charge  was  well  grounded,  if,  as  soon  as  they  who  pretend 
to  have  been  a  restraint  upon  our  inclinations,  have  re- 
treated, we  give  a  loose  to  the  wanton  dictates  of  our  passion 
and  revenge  ?  Let  us  examine  what  we  owe  to  ourselves 
as  men  of  sense  and  humanity,  and  what  is  due  to  the  dig- 
nity of  the  State,  rather  than  what  such  oifenders  deserve 
to  suffer  from  our  hands  for  their  manifold  misdeeds. 

''  I  have  already,  gentlemen,  taken  up  so  much  of  your 
time,  that  I  will  not  delay  you  longer  than  to  take  a  cur- 
sory view  of  the  duties  incumbent  on  you  as  a  grand  jury, 
and  to  recapitulate  the  offences  cognizable  by  you. 

"  You  are  entitled,  according  to  the  uniform  and  estab- 
lished custom  of  this  State,  to  the  privilege  of  first  enquiring 
into  the  crimes  committed  within  the  jurisdiction  of  this 
Court.  And  the  oath  which  has  been  just  administered  to 
you,  requires  your  diligence  and  activity  in  investigating  the 
truth  of  all  such  matters  and  things  as  shall  be  given  you 
in  charge,  or  shall  come  to  your  knowledge,  in  examining 
the  evidences  which  are  brought  against  the  accused,  and  in 
forming  a  conscientious  decision,  after  mature  deliberation, 
upon  the  testimony  supporting  these  allegations,  or  upon 
the  knowledge  which  you  yourselves  have  respecting  the 
subjects  of  your  inquiry. 

"  It  is  then  prescribed  to  you  to  make  a  true  and  just 
report  thereof,  for  your  determination  (formed  privately 
amongst  yourselves,  and  in  which  twelve  of  your  number 
must  indispensably  concur  to  give  weight  and  effect  to  the 
indictments)  is  the  great  spring  that  sets  in  motion  all  the 
wheels  of  prosecution.  Your  reports  furnish  the  Court  with 
subject-matter  to  proceed  on,  are  the  first  means  of  intro- 
ducing the  citizen  into  a  secure  situation,  and  lay  the  foun- 
dation of  bringing  offenders  to  their  merited  punishment. 
But  it  is  not  to  be  understood  that  you  are  to  make  so 
minute  an  investigation  into  such  matters  as  are  the  proper 
subjects  of  your  inquiry,  as  to  establish  the  fact  itself.  You 
are  to  find  the  bill,  though  founded  only  on  probable  gi'ounds 
of  suspicion,  that  the  accused  is  guilty.  For,  notwithstand- 
ing the  Petit  Jury  cannot  exceed  the  crime  laid  in  your 
indictment,  yet  they  have  the  power,  nevertheless,  of  ex- 
tending it  to  the  least  degree  of  offence  that  can  be  in  that 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  427 

kind.  Your  report,  therefore,  is  an  information  or  declara- 
tion in  favor  of  the  State  (founded  upon  diu.  ex  parte  inquiry 
against  the  accused,  which  precludes  the  least  possible  chance 
of  an  offender  escaping  without  punishment.  And  in 
conformity  to  that  wise  maxim  which  declares,  that  it  is 
better  that  ten  guilty  men  should  elude  the  justice  of  the 
courts  of  law,  than  that  one  innocent  person  should  suffer 
unmeritcdly,  it  is  likewise  preferable  that  ten  guiltless  per- 
sons should  undergo  the  inconvenience  of  an  examination 
before  you,  than  that  one  offender  should  triumph  in  his 
crimes  with  impunity.  Since,  therefore,  yoii  are  authorized 
to  examine  only  the  evidences  against  the  prisoner,  and  that 
your  verdict  can  neither  acquit  nor  convict,  it  is  not  neces- 
sary that  you  should  find  the  specific  crime  of  which  the 
prisoner  stands  accused.  For  instance,  if  one  has  by  acci- 
dent killed  a  person,  it  does  not  lie  with  you  to  discriminate 
the  degree  of  offence. 

"  You  are  further,  gentlemen,  obliged  by  virtue  of  your 
oath,  to  be  secret  in  your  councils,  and  silent  upon  the  rea- 
sons of  your  decisions ;  unless  the  Court  demand  some 
questions  of  you.  You  should  not  divulge  whatever  has 
been  debated  upon  in  the  course  of  your  business,  nor  the 
sentiments  which  are  delivered  ;  nor  make  public  the  per- 
sons who  made  use  of  these  arguments,  nor  the  opinions 
which  you  yourselves  held  in  discussion  of  the  point  in 
question  :  for  certain  it  is,  that  such  discovery  is  accompa- 
nied by  perjury.  The  remainder  of  the  oath  illustrates  with 
what  integrity  you  ought  to  conduct  yourselves  in  the  execu- 
tion of  your  duty. 

''  You  must  not  suffer  your  minds  to  be  clouded  by  the 
passions,  but  suppress  all  emanations  of  prejudice  or  malice, 
and  give  a  full  and  absolute  sway  to  the  dictates  of  reason 
and  justice.  You  must  not  omit  presenting  for  punishment 
offenders  against  the  law,  either  through  partiality,  favor, 
love,  reward,  or  any  expectation  thereof. 

"  This,  I  confess,  is  a  very  difficult  task ;  but,  notwith- 
standing the  repugnant  impulses  of  our  tender  nature,  be 
assured  that  your  oath  will  cause  you  to  make  a  free  inquiry, 
and  to  deliver  a  just  account  of  the  result.  For  it  is  also 
enjoined   you   to  present   the   truth,  the  whole  truth,  and 


428  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

nothing  but  the  truth,  according  to  the  best  of  your  skill 
and  knowledge.  If,  therefore,  there  is  any  mental  reserva- 
tion, any  concealment  of  the  truth,  or  any  part  thereof,  any 
suppression  of  facts  which  have  come  within  your  own 
knowledge,  you  betray  the  trust  which  your  country  has 
generously  committed  to  your  prudence,  fidelity,  and  in- 
tegrity. 

"  But,  at  the  same  time  that  you  are  required  to  present 
all  that  you  shall  learn  relative  to  the  subject  of  your  inqui- 
ries, you  shall  not  report  anything  but  what  is  true  ;  that  is, 
no  known  falsity,  no  unjust  accusation,  which  might  be  the 
occasion  of  drawing  on  an  innocent  person  the  suspicion  of 
being  criminal,  and  of  subjecting  him  to  the  reproaches  of 
his  fellow- citizens.  For  it  is  as  much  incumbent  on  you 
to  protect  the  virtuous,  as  to  accuse  and  bring  to  trial  the 
guilty  transgressor. 

*'  If,  therefore,  it  appears  to  you  that  the  evidences  are 
false,  or  that  the  charges  appear  founded  in  prejudice  and 
malice,  you  ought  to  present  such  notorious  offender.  The 
consideration  of  this  part  of  your  duty,  is  a  sufficient  com- 
pensation to  the  generous  and  humane,  for  the  disagreeable 
oflfice  imj)osed  upon  you  of  pointing  out  the  wicked  for  the 
animadversion  of  the  Court,  since  nothing  surely  can  yield 
a  more  substantial  gratification  to  virtuous  minds,  than  the 
reflection  that,  besides  being  naturally  possessed  of  the 
inclination,  the  laws  of  the  country  have  invested  them  with 
the  power  of  shielding  the  weak,  unprotected,  and  honest 
from  the  calumnies  and  unmerited  aspersions  of  the  base 
and  flagitious. 

"  The  crimes  which  are  cognizable  by  you  are  two-fold  : 
the  first  are  capital,  for  which  the  offender  loses  his  life ;  the 
second  are  fineable,  to  answer  which  the  goods  and  lands  of 
the  guilty  are  subject,  and  to  the  fine  is  sometimes  annexed 
corporeal  punishment. 

''  It  will  be  suSicient,  at  present,  that  I  only  mention  to 
you  in  general  terms,  the  denominations  of  the  crimes  which 
comprise  many  more  of  an  inferior  degree.  The  capital 
offences  are  felony;  the  fineable  oSences  are  those  com- 
mitted against  the  public  justice,  against  the  public  peace. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  429 

against  tlie  public  profit,  against  the  public  health,  and  also 
such  as  introduce  nuisances  to  the  damage  and  destruction 
of  the  property  of  the  good  citizens  of  this  State. 

"  And  now,  gentlemen,  I  take  my  leave  of  you,  congra- 
tulating you  on  the  great  event,  which  we  have  been  so 
instrumental  in  accomplishing  by  the  succor  of  divine  Pro- 
vidence. 

"  It  is  with  pleasure  we  look  back  upon  the  difficulties 
and  dangers  we  have  been  obliged  to  undergo  in  the  esta- 
blishment of  our  independence,  and  our  perils  and  labors 
for  the  sake  of  our  country,  will  render  it  dearer  to  us.  Let 
us  therefore  exert  ourselves  to  cherish  and  preserve  that 
freedom,  which  has  cost  us  such  an  expenditure  of  blood  and 
treasure.  Let  us  emulate  those  martial  efforts  of  which  we 
now  are  experiencing  the  benefits,  and  endeavor  to  secure 
the  civil  peace,  order,  and  tranquillity  of  the  State.  The 
former  have  made  us  a  free  people  ;  the  latter  will  render  us 
for  ever  happy." 

This  charge,  in  the  generous  feelings  and  moral  courage 
exhibited,  was  highly  honorable  to  the  character  of  the 
judge ;  and  though  doubtless,  with  other  efforts  of  the  kind, 
productive  of  beneficial  results,  could  not  allay  the  deep 
feelings  of  animosity  and  revenge  which  had  taken  posses- 
sion of  many  of  the  people,  or  save  society  from  the  unhappy 
scenes  attending  the  redress  of  a  varied  class  of  wrongs 
sustained  during  the  war,  which  the  ordinary  administration 
of  justice  could  not  possibly  reach.  Only  the  lapse  of  time 
could  extinguish  resentment,  and  the  passing  away  of  the 
actors  in  other  days,  bring  repose.  For  more  than  a  gene- 
ration the  evil  was  sorely  felt. 

The  grand  jury  made  the  following  presentments  : — 

"  State  of  South  Carolina. — We,  the  Grand  Jurors  for 
the  District  of  Cheraws,  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of 
a  road  leading  from  the  Long  Bluff  Court-house,  the  most 
direct  way  to  Camden  ;  also,  another  road,  leading  from  the 
Long  Bluff  Court-house  to  Murray^s  Ferry  on  Santee ;  like- 
wise, another  road  leading  from  Kolb's  Ferry  to  Raines  Bridge 
on  Gum  Swamp,  to  meet  a  road  leading  from  Cross  Creek 
to  that  place. 


430  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

"  II.  We  present^  as  a  grievance,  the  want  of  a  bridge 
over  Black  Creek,  on  the  road  leading  from  the  Long  Bluff 
to  George-town. 

"  III.  We  present,  as  a  grievance,  the  dangerous  naviga- 
tion of  the  River  Pedee,  arising  from  the  great  number  of 
logs  lodged  in  the  different  parts  of  the  same. 

"  IV.  We  present,  as  a  very  great  grievance,  the  want  of 
the  laws  now  in  force  in  this  State  to  be  printed,  and  the 
magistrates  and  other  officers  to  be  furnished  with  the 
same. 

"  V.  We  return  our  most  hearty  thanks  to  his  honor,  the 
judge,  for  his  learned  charge  delivered  to  the  grand  jury, 
and  request  that  it,  together  with  these,  our  presentments, 
be  printed  in  the  Gazettes. 

"  George   Hicks,  Foreman. 

Morgan  Brown. 

Moses  Pearson. 

Richard  Brockington. 

Thomas  Lide. 

Tristram  Thomas. 

Philip  Pledger. 

John  Pledger. 

Thomas  Ellerbe. 

Aaron  Daniel. 

Joseph  Ellison. 

John  Andrews. 

William  Ellerbe. 

John  Westfield. 

John  M'Call." 
At  the  following  Session  of  the  Legislature,  January, 
1784,  Thomas  Powe  was  appointed  Commissioner  of  Loca- 
tion for  Cheraw  District.  Under  an  Act  j)assed  to  regulate 
the  inspection  and  exportation  of  tobacco,  the  growth  and 
produce  of  this  State,  and  for  other  purposes,  a  warehouse 
or  warehouses  were  ordered  to  be  established  at  Cheraw 
Hill ;  and  Benjamin  Hicks,  jun.,  John  Westfield,  and  Wil- 
liam Pegues  appointed  inspectors.  The  presentments  of  the 
Grand  Jury  of  Cheraws,  the  November  previous,  called  the 
attention  of  the  Legislature  to  the  important  subject  of 
making  some  provision  for  improving  the  navigation  of  the 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS.  431 

Pedce.  The  matter  liad  been  pressed  upon  it  l)eforc^  but  no 
relief  yd  afforded.  In  an  ordinance  passed  on  the  26th  of 
March  of  this  session,  for  appointing  commissioners  to  clear 
put  certain  streams,  the  Great  Pedee  "was  included.  Ben- 
jamin Hicks,  sen.,  George  Hicks,  Thomas  Powe,  William 
Kershaw,  and  William  Pegues,  were  the  commissioners  ap- 
pointed under  the  same  for  Cheraws  District,  and  empowered 
to  contract  for  the  removal  of  all  obstructions  in  the  Pedee 
as  high  up  as  the  North  Carolina  line  ;  and  for  that  pur- 
pose were  a\itliorized  to  draw  on  the  Treasury  for  any  sum 
of  money  not  exceeding  300/.  sterling. 

Of  the  action  of  the  commissioners,  nothing  is  known. 
The  same  subject,  as  will  be  seen,  continued  to  receive  the 
attention  of  the  Legislature  ;  but,  either  from  the  want  of 
adequate  appropriations,  or  the  inefficient  execution  of  the 
work,  or  other  causes  perhaps  beyond  the  control  of  those 
entrusted  with  it,  the  navigation  of  the  river  continued  to 
be  seriously  obstructed  until  a  period  long  subsequent.  By 
an  ordinance  passed  the  following  year,  for  clearing  out 
certain  rivers,  Benjamin  Hicks,  sen.,  George  Hicks,  Thomas 
Powe,  William  Pegues,  Captain  William  M^Cotry,  James 
Grier,  Francis  Greaves,  Colonel  John  Ervin,  Colonel  Hugh 
Giles,  Henry  Davis,  sen.,  and  Archibald  Odom,  were  ap- 
pointed commissioners  for  making  navigable  the  Great 
Pedee  from  Euhany  to  the  North  Carolina  line.  To  defray 
the  expense  thereof,  they  were  authorized  to  assess  what  fur- 
ther sum  might  be  requisite  on  all  lands,  in  proportion  to 
their  value,  as  assessed  for  the  payment  of  the  general  tax, 
situated  within  six  miles  of  the  said  river^  from  Euhany  to 
the  Warhce  Bluff,  and  within  ten  miles  of  said  river,  from 
the  said  Bluff  upwards ;  and  on  all  male  inhabitants,  from 
sixteen  to  fifty  years  of  age,  living  within  six  miles  of  the 
river,  from  Euhany  to  the  Warhees,  and  within  ten  miles 
from  the  Warhees  upwards.  They  were  also  authorized  to 
make  the  like  assessment  afterwards,  from  time  to  time,  to 
keep  the  river  navigable.  The  history  of  the  legislation  of 
the  State  on  this  subject,  like  that  of  some  of  its  judicial 
decisions,  will  be  found  to  have  gone  through  a  certain 
course  of  changes,  returning  at  last  to  the  plan  first  adopted, 
as  the  courts  have  done  to  principles,  once  established^  then 


432  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

modified,  and  finally  made  tlie  settled  rule  of  law.  Com- 
missioners were  first  appointed  to  improve  the  navigation  of 
the  river,  then  a  board  of  public  works,  than  a  general 
superintendent,  and  at  length,  after  the  failure  of  these 
plans  to  a  great  extent,  commissioners,  as  at  the  beginning, 
the  system  of  all  others  that  has  proved  most  efiiective. 

At  an  election  for  the  Legislature,  held  on  the  29th  and  30th 
of  November,  1784,  William  Dewitt  was  returned  Senator, 
and  Morgan  Brown,  Elias  Du  Bose,  Colonel  Lemuel  Ben- 
ton, William  Pegues,  Thomas  Povve,  and  Calvin  Spencer, 
Representatives  for  St.  David^s  Parish.  One  of  the  seats 
having  been  subsequently  vacated,  Tristram  Thomas  was 
elected  a  member  for  the  session  of  the  following  year.  The 
Legislature  met  on  the  20th  of  January.  On  the  29th  of 
that  month,  Captain  Dewitt,  who  was  sheriff  of  Cheraws  at 
the  time  of  his  election,  appeared,  and  ha^dng  taken  the 
oath,  informed  the  House  of  the  fact ;  upon  which,  it  was 
resolved,  that,  agreeably  to  the  constitution,  he  was  not 
qualified  to  take  his  seat.  Having  returned  home,  and  re- 
signed the  ofiice  of  .sheriff,  he  was  re-elected,  and  took  his 
seat  in  March.  Allen  Chapman  was  elected  Sheriff,  and 
George  Hicks,  Robert  Lide,  and  William  Thomas,  Commis- 
sioners of  Caveats  for  Cheraw  District. 

The  Session  of  1785  was  rendered  memorable  by  the 
passage  of  the  celebrated  County  Court  Act.  As  the 
population  of  the  country  extended,  the  Circuit  Court 
system,  established  in  1769,  was  found  inadequate  to  the 
due  and  equal  administration  of  justice.  To  remedy  this 
evil,  it  was  proposed  to  establish  Courts  of  Inferior  Jurisdic- 
tion, after  the  model  of  the  County  Court  system  of 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina.  Mr.  Justice  Pendleton,  one 
of  the  Associate  Judges,  and  an  active  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  (for  these  offices  were  not  then 
incompatible)  was  the  able  advocate  of  this  scheme.  By 
his  influence  and  strenuous  exertions,  it  was  adopted."^ 

By  this  Act,  it  was  provided  '^  that  the  District  of 
Cheraws  should  be  divided  into  three  counties,  that  is  to. 
say, — one  county  lying  and  being  on  the   south-east  side  of 


*  Introduction  to  Brevard's  "  Digest,"  p.  xvi. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  433 

Pedee  River,  bounding  on  the  said  river  on  the  one  side, 
the  district  line  of  George-town  on  the  other  side, 
and  on  the  other  side,  the  North  Carolina  boundary,  and 
shall  be  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Marlborough 
County ;  one  other  county,  beginning  at  the  mouth  of 
Cedar  Creek,  on  Pedee  River,  thence  up  to  the  head  of  the 
southernmost  branch  of  the  said  creek,  and  thence  by 
direct  line  to  the  fork  of  Lynchers  Creek,  being  the  upper 
county  of  the  said  northern  division  of  the  District,  and 
shall  be  called  by  the  name  of  Chesterfield ;  one  other 
county,  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Cedar  Creek,  thence 
down  Pedee  to  the  District  line,  thence  along  the  said  line 
to  Lynchers  Creek,  thence  up  the  same  to  the  fork,  being 
the  lower  county  of  the  said  division,  and  shall  be  called 
Darlington  County/'  By  the  11  sec.  of  the  Act,  the  Justices 
of  the  said  counties  .were  empowered  to  build  Court 
Houses,  &c.,  to  cause  taxes  to  be  laid  for  the  erection  of 
public  buildings,  and  to  select  for  the  same  the  most  con- 
venient part  of  each  county.  The  County  Courts,  thus 
established,  were  to  be  held  once  in  every  three  months,  by 
the  justices  of  the  peace  of  the  several  counties  respec- 
tively ;  and  their  jurisdiction  extended  to  the  hearing  and 
determination  of  all  causes  at  common  law^  to  any  amount 
where  the  debt  was  liquidated  by  bond  or  note  of  hand,  or 
where  the  damages  in  certain  actions  did  not  exceed  fifty 
pounds,  and  in  other  personal  actions  where  the  damages 
did  not  exceed  twenty  pounds,  or  where  the  titles  of  land 
did  not  come  in  question.  In  criminal  cases  their  jurisdic- 
tion was  extremely  limited.  The  modes  of  proceeding  were 
prescribed,  the  forms  of  process,  and  the  manner  of  trial.  The 
right  of  appeal  to  the  superior,  or  Circuit  Courts  was  provided."^ 

On  the  21st  of  March,  the  joint  committee  of  the  Senate 
and  House,  appointed  for  that  purpose,  reported  a  list  of 
justices  for  the  several  counties.  For  Marlborough,  Claudius 
Pegues,  sen.,  Geo.  Hicks,  Morgan  Brown,  Tristram  Thomas, 
Claudius  Pegues,  jun.,  Moses  Pearson,  and  Thomas  Evans. 

For  Chesterfield  County,  Thomas  Powe,  William  Pegues, 
Benjamin  Jackson,  William  Strother,  Calvin  Spencer,  Joseph 
Pledger,  and  Charles  Evans. 


*  Introduction  to  Brevard's  "  Digest,"  p.  xvi. 

F  p 


434  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

YoY  Darlington  County^  "William  Dewitt,  Lemuel  Benton, 
Zacliariah  Nettles,  James  P.  Wilson,  Elias  Du  Bose^  Robert 
Lide,  and  Cliarles  Dewitt. 

The  office  of  justice,  under  this  Act,  was  one  of  high 
trust,  and  much  importance.  Men  of  experience  and  j)Osi- 
tion  were  selected.  The  school  of  the  Bevolution  had 
brought  out  conspicuously  not  a  few  citizens  of  solid  judg- 
ment and  unblemished  integrity  on  the  Pedee.  At  no 
period  since,  perhaps,  in  proportion  to  the  population,  have 
as  many  such  characters  been  known. 

For  the  Court  House  of  Marlborough,  a  location  was  first 
made  near  Gardner^s  Bluff,  the  most  of  the  settlements 
being  then  on  the  river,  or  in  the  region  adjacent.  After- 
wards, it  was  removed  lower  down,  to  the  site  of  the  old 
Court  House,  as  it  has  since  been  known,  on  the  main 
river  road,  above  Crooked  Creek  ;  and  there  continued  until 
the  extreme  unhealthiness  of  that  locality  rendered  a  change 
necessary,  the  population  also  having  extended  out  from  the 
river  into  the  pine  lands ;  and  the  present  country  seat, 
Bennettsville,  was  selected.  Por  Chesterfield,  the  site  of 
the  present  Court  House  was  chosen.  For  Darlington, 
there  was  some  difficulty  in  effecting  an  agreement  among 
the  justices.  Col.  Benton  made  strenuous  efforts  to  have 
the  location  fixed  at  Mechanics ville.  Elias  DuBose,  an  in- 
fluential justice,  was  as  anxious  to  have  Coffee  Town,  a  point 
on  Swift  Creek,  six  miles  above  the  present  Court  House, 
selected.  As  a  compromise,  the  present  site,  nearly  midway 
between  the  other  two,  was  chosen.  So  sparse  were  the 
settlements  in  that  neighbourhood,  that  only  a  few  years 
before,  nothing  but  an  old  Indiau  trail  led  from  that  point 
to  Camden.  The  Courts  for  Marlborough  were  to  be  holden 
on  the  1st  Mondays  in  March,  June,  September,  and  Decem- 
ber. For  Chesterfield,  on  the  2nd  Mondays  of  the  same 
months ;  and  for  Darlington,  on  the  3rd  Tuesdays  in  January, 
April,  July,  and  October. 

Such  records  of  the  County  Courts  as  have  been  pre- 
served, exhibit  but  little  matter  of  interest.  The  country 
was  sorely  embarrassed  with  debt,  and  suits  were  numerous. 
There  were  many  prosecutions  in  the  County  Courts,  par- 
ticularly for  cow  stealing,  which  appears    at  that  period  to 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  435 

have  been  the  most  frequent  crime.  The  only  presentment 
Avhich  has  been  found,  was  one  made  in  Chesterfield,  March 
13,  1787;  and  the  only  subject  matter  of  it,  certain  per- 
sons therein  named,  as  having  been  guilty  of  offences 
against  the  public  morals.  The  grand  jury  on  this  occa- 
sion, so  far  as  the  names  appear  on  the  records,  consisted 
of  the  following  persons  : — 

Thomas  Ellerbe,  Foreman. 

Wm.  Lyons. 

Ephraim  Home. 

Abraham  Cook. 

John  Evans. 

Thomas  Leonard. 

Benjamin  Outlaw. 

JasoQ  Meadow. 

Joel  Yarborough. 

Joseph  Booth. 

Joseph  Powell. 

John  Blakeney. 

Moses  Mollis. 

John  Carter. 
Many  of  the  records  of  Chesterfield  County  remain  in  a 
good  state  of  preservation.  But  few  are  to  be  found  in  the 
public  offices  of  Marlborough,  and  unfortunately  for  the 
history  of  justice  as  administered  in  Cheraws  District,  all 
the  Circuit  Court  records,  with  those  of  Darlington  County, 
were  destroyed  by  the  burning  of  the  Court  House  about 
1804.*  The  fire  occurred  during  Court  week,  and  an  old 
woman,  who  was  party  to  a  cause  then  pending,  and  whose 
interest  it  was  to  get  rid  of  the  records  of  the  Court,  was 
suspected  of  having  been  privy  to  the  burning.  Beyond 
this  suspicion,  however,  no  clue  was  ever  discovered  as  to 
the  origin  of  the  conflagration. 


*  A  strong  wind  blew  in  the  direction  of  the  gaol,  carrying  a  burning  shingle 
to  the  roof  and  setting  it  in  a  blaze.  The  late  John  D.  VVitherspoon,  of  Society 
Hill  (who  related  the  circumstances  to  the  Author),  was  present,  and  being  then 
a  young  man,  and  of  great  activity  and  decision,  rendered  very  efficient  service 
on  the  occasion.  There  being  no  ladder  at  hand,  he  ascended  by  a  smooth  pole 
to  the  roof  of  the  gaol,  and  saved  it,  with  the  prisoners  in  it,  from  destruction. 
The  loss  of  documentary  matter,  connected  with  the  history  of  the  Pedce,  was 
irreparable. 

F  F  2 


436  HISTOEY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

The  Circuit  Court  for  Cheraws  District  continued  to  sit 
at  Long  Bluff.  Tlie  lawyers  whose  names  appear  in  the 
records  of  this  period  at  the  Cheraws  Bar,  were  Elihu  Hall 
Bay,  Joseph  Brevard,  Thomas  Waties,  and  Thomas  Parker ; 
a  few  years  later  those  of  William  Falconer  and  John 
Dibble  are  frequently  mentioned,  and  John  Caulkins.  By  the 
close  of  the  century  a  number  of  others  were  added  to  the  list. 

In  1785  there  was  no  resident  lawyer  within  the  bounds 
of  Cheraw  District. 

The  three  counties  are  supposed  to  have  been  named, 
respectively,  in  honor  of  the  Duke  of  Marlborough,  the 
Earl  of  Chesterfield,  and  Col.  Darlington,  who  distinguished 
himself  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.^  By  the  County 
Court  Act,  that  portion  of  the  Judicial  District  of  George- 
town, now  constituting  Marion  District,  was  formed  into  a 
county  under  the  name  of  Liberty  Precinct,  and  the  site  of 
the  present  Court  House  selected.  The  name  was  most 
appropriately  given,  as  in  that  region,  under  Marion,  the 
struggle  for  liberty  on  the  Pedee  was  chiefly  waged. 

About  this  time  the  name  of  Greenville  appears  for  the 
first  in  the  records  of  the  day  instead  of  Long  Bluff  as 
before.  It  was  so  called  in  honor  of  Gen.  Green,  to  whom 
South  Carolina  was  largely  indebted  for  the  successful  issue 
of  the  struggle  which  secured  her  independence. 

The  St.  David^s  Society,  which  had  been  suspended 
during  the  latter  years  of  the  war,  was  now  revived,  and 
immediately  took  rank  among  the  most  distinguished  schools 
of  learning  in  the  State. 

From  its  walls,  in  subsequent  years,  went  forth  those 
who  were  to  fill  the  highest  j)ositions  of  usefulness  and  dis- 
tinction in  Carolina. 

The  following  notice  appeared  in  the  South  Carolina 
Gazette  and  Public  Advertiser  of  Aug.  13,  1785  : — 

"  The  St.  David's  Society  met  on  the  23rd  ultimo,  at 
Greenville,  in  the  District  of  Cheraw,  and  chose  the  follow- 
ing gentlemen  as  officers  for  the  year  then  commencing  : — 
James  P.  Wilson,  Esq.,  President;  William  Dewitt,  Esq., 
Vice-President ;  Thomas  Powe,  Esq.,  Treasurer ;  and  Evan- 


*  Mill's  "  Statistics  of  So.  Ca.,"  p.  512. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  437 

der  M'lver^  Secretary.  They  also  appoiutcd  the  following 
gentlemen  a  committee  to  superintend  the  erection  of  suit- 
able buildings^  engage  tutors,  &c.  Thomas  Powe  and  Wil- 
liam Dewitt,  Esqrs.,  Rev.  Edmund  Botsford,  Mr.  Abel 
Edwards,  and  Mr.  Evandcr  M'lver.  This  laudable  society, 
formed  for  the  benevolent  purpose  of  erecting  an  academy, 
was  instituted  in  the  year  1778  ;  but,  owing  to  the  calamities 
of  the  late  war,  had  been  entirely  neglected.  However,  we 
hope,  from  its  happy  revival,  and  the  very  liberal  subscrip- 
tions already  made,  that  it  Avill  soon  flourish,  and  that  their 
intended  plans  may  be  prosecuted  aud  carried  into  effect." 
In  the  following  year  William  Pegues,  Esq.,  was  elected 
President,  Samuel  Wilds,  Treasurer,  and  Enoch  Evans,  senr., 
Secretary ;  which  offices  the  two  latter  continued  to  hold  for 
years  afterwards. 

Andrew  INI'^Culley  took  charge  of  the  academy  in  the 
early  part  of  1 786,  and  taught  until  October  of  the  follow- 
ing year.  Of  Mr.  M'CuUey  nothing  more  is  known  than 
that  he  appears  to  have  discharged  his  duties  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  society.  He  was  succeeded  for  a  short  time 
by  Ezekiel  Hitchcock,  who  had  probably  been  his  assistant. 

Eli  King  was  Principal  for  three  years,  beginning  with 
1788.  He  was  from  New  England,  and  a  friend  of  Thomas 
Park,  who  succeeded  him  in  1791.  Samuel  Wilds  assisted 
Mr.  King  in  1788,  and  was  afterwards,  for  a  time,  the  Prin- 
cipal. Mr.  King,  after  giving  up  the  school,  embarked  in 
mercantile  pursuits.  Thomas  Park  had  charge  of  St.  David's 
from  1791  to  1800.  About  that  time  he  engaged  with  Mr. 
King  in  business.  Better  fitted,  howevei-,  for  teaching 
than  merchandizing,  their  enterprise  proved  a  failure.  Mr. 
Park  then  took  charge  of  the  academy  at  Ebenezer,  in  the 
lower  part  of  Darlington,  and  w^as  transferred  from  that 
position,  upon  the  organization  of  the  South  Carolina  College, 
to  the  Professorship  of  Languages,  having  been  elected  in 
November,  1806.  There  he  continued  in  the  uninterrupted 
discharge  of  duty  until  1831-5.  He  was  then  elected 
Treasurer  and  Librarian  of  the  College,  and  faithfully  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  these  offices  until  his  death  in  1844, 
in  the  79th  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Park  was  a  native  of 
Uxbridge,  ]\Iassachusetts,  and  graduated  at  Brown  Univer- 


438  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEEAWS. 

sity,  Providence,  R.I.,  in  1791.  In  the  latter  part  of  that 
year  he  came  to  the  Pedee.  Without  experience  as  a 
teacher,  but  with  a  well-trained  mind,  correct  scholarship, 
particularly  in  the  ancient  classics,  and  a  conscientious 
devotion  to  duty  never  surpassed,  he  entered  at  once  upon 
that  highly  useful  and  most  successful  career  as  a  teacher 
of  youth,  which  was  only  to  terminate  with  his  declining 
strength  more  than  forty  years  afterwards.  With  neither 
genius  nor  learning,  few  men  did  more  than  Thomas  Park  for 
the  education  of  the  youth  of  Carolina,  and  no  one  ever 
retired  from  a  position  so  difficult  to  fill,  whether  in  the 
academy  or  the  college,  with  a  larger  share  of  the  confi- 
dence and  affection  of  those  with  whom  he  had  been  con- 
nected. A  just  and  beautiful  tribute  has  been  paid  to  his 
character  and  services  by  Professor  Laborde  in  his  History 
of  the  South  Carolina  College.  It  was  a  tribute  richly 
deserved,  and  touchingly  rendered  by  the  writer  of  that  work. 
Mr.  Park  was  succeeded  in  St.  David's  by  the  Pev.  Frame 
Wood,  who  continued  in  charge  until  1804.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Enoch  Hanford  in  1804-5,  and  the  latter  by  Elias 
Jones  in  1806-7. 

After  the  re%dval  of  St.  David's,  in  1785,  it  continued  to 
flourish.  Public  examinations  were  held  annually,  and  com- 
mittees appointed  to  act  on  such  occasions.  The  exhibitions 
of  the  pupils  excited  much  interest  in  the  country  around 
for  a  considerable  distance,  and  were  numerously  attended. 
The  records  of  its  early  history  would  serve  as  a  model  for 
many  of  the  academies  of  more  recent  times,  which,  though 
more  pretentious,  are  not  so  thoroughly  conducted  as  was 
this  noted  school  of  old. 

In  1795,  an  Act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature,  providing 
that  all  the  confiscated  property  to  which  the  State  was 
then  entitled  in  the  Circuit  Court  District  of  Cheraws,  as 
also  all  the  property  already  escheated,  or  which  might  there- 
after escheat,  should  be  invested  in  the  incorporated  society 
of  St.  David's.   • 

Death  had  already  made  sad  havoc  among  the  members 
of  the  society.  Between  the  years  1780  and  1788,  the  fol- 
lowing, as  entered  on  the  records,  had  died,  viz. : — General 
Alexander  M'Intosh,    Colonel   Thomas    Lide,  Abel  Wilds, 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS.  439 

William  Terrell^  Thomas  Evans^  sen.,  Joslma  Edwards, 
Colouel  Abel  Kolb,  Thomas  James,  Captain  Pliilip  Pledger, 
Richard  Hodge,  Charles  Mason,  Joshua  Terrell,  Captain 
Edward  Jones,  Philip  Singleton,  William  Blassingame,  llev. 
John  Conner,  Adam  Cusack,  Hugh  Jones,  Benjamin  William- 
son, Captain  Edmund  Irby,  Charles  Irby,  Captain  George 
King,  Captain  Simon  Council,  and  John  Thompson. 

The  following  members  were  dismissed  from  the  soeiety 
at  their  own  request,  for  the  most  part,  doubtless,  because 
of  the  distance  at  which  they  lived,  rendei'ing  it  incon- 
venient to  attend  the  meetings: — May  3rd,  1787 — Benjamin 
Rogers,  Colonel  George  Hicks,  Colonel  Lemuel  Benton, 
Captain  William  Pcgues  ;  May  1st,  1788 — Major  Robert 
Lide,  Captain  Thomas  Ellerbe,  William  Ellerbe,  Captain 
Benjamin  Hicks,  Josiah  Evans;  May  6th,  1790 — Alexander 
Craig,  David  Roach,  Jesse  Wilds  ;  June  18th,  1791— William 
Thomas;  August  6th,  1792— Rev.  Evan  Pixgh,  and  Major 
John  Kimbrough. 

The  following  were  members  after  1788  : — Daniel  Sparks, 
Rev.  Elhanan  Winchester,  William  Dewitt,  Rev.  Evan  Pugh, 
Nathanael  Saunders,  John  Hodge,  Abel  Edwards,  Thomas 
Powe,  John  CNeal,  William  Thomas,  Jeremiah  Brown, 
John  Kimbrough,  Peter  Allston,  Charles  Gee,  Claudius 
Pegues,  James  Blassingame,  John  M'Call,  David  Roach, 
Jethro  Moore,  Alexander  Craig,  Robert  Gibson,  Moses 
Pearson,  Rev.  Edmund  Botsford,  Morgan  Brown,  Evander 
M'lver,  James  P.  Wilson,  Maurice  IMurphy,  Peter  Kolb, 
Benjamin  James,  Tristram  Thomas,  Jesse  Wilds,  Benjamin 
Kolb,  Thomas  Evans,  Enoch  Evans,  sen.,  Enoch  Evans, 
juu.,  Samuel  AYilds,  Edward  Duke,  Henry  Clark,  aud  William 
Falconer. 

The  cause  of  religion  partook  largely  of  the  general  de- 
pression caused  by  the  troubled  state  of  things  during  the 
Revolution.  After  the  resignation  of  j\Ir,  Winchester,  in 
September,  1779,  the  Rev.  Edmund  Botsford  took  charge 
of  the  Welch  Neck  Church.  Mr.  Botsford  was  very  highly 
esteemed.  He  remained  until  the  1st  June,  1780,  when, 
upon  the  threatened  approach  of  the  British  troops,  he  went 
to  Virginia;  returning  to  Pedee,  however,  in  1782.  During 
his  absence,  the  church  was  supplied  a  part  of  the  time  by 


440  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD   CHERAWS. 

the  Eev.  Joshua  Lewis^  an  excellent  man^  who  long  con- 
tinued his  faithful  labors  in  this  region.  It  is  mentioned 
in  the  records  of  the  church,  that  of  the  220  white  members 
left  by  Mr.  Winchester  in  September,  1779,  only  48  re- 
mained in  March,  1793,  showing  the  sad  havoc  of  death, 
and  the  unhappy  results  of  a  protracted  war. 

In  1798,  the  inhabitants  on  the  river  very  generally  gave 
up  their  plantations  as  residences,  and  retired  to  the  hills  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  present  village.  About  the  same 
time,  a  movement  was  made  to  abandon  the  spot  which  had 
been  consecrated  as  a  place  of  religious  worship  for  nearly 
three  quarters  of  a  century,  and  erect  a  suitable  building 
on  Society  Hill. 

Before  the  close  of  the  century  it  was  probably  done. 
The  records  of  the  church,  for  a  few  years  following  1798, 
Avere  lost  or  destroyed,  and  no  account  remains  of  the  com- 
pletion of  this  design. 

The  first  building  erected  after  the  removal  was  near  the 
St.  David^s  Academy,  and  remained  for  almost  half  a  century. 
The  more  imposing  structure  of  the  present  day  is  upon  a 
spot  very  near  the  original  site.  Sad  are  the  changes  which 
time  brings  with  it.  The  signs  of  progress  are  linked  with 
the  memorials  of  decay.  The  associations  of  the  past  it  is 
well  to  cherish — and  let  the  earlier  days  of  the  old  Welch 
Neck  never  be  forgotten. 

Shortly  before,  and  soon  after  the  Revolution,  some 
valuable  accessions  were  made  to  the  population  of  Cheraw 
District. 

The  Eev.  Timothy  Dargan  settled  on  Jeffrey^s  Creek, 
in  charge  of  a  church  there,  prior  to  the  year  1780.*  He 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but  came  to  South  Carolina  in  his 
youth,  and  in  the  early  part  of  his  life  bore  a  commission  in 
the  Provincial  troops,  which  were  raised  for  the  defence  of 
the  Province  during  the  French  and  Indian  wars.  He  re- 
mained on  Jefii-ey's  Creek  until  his  death,  in  1783.  He  was 
the  grandfather  of  the  late  Chancellor  Dargan,  of  Dar- 
lington. 

Colonel  John  Smith  settled  in  Darlington  District  after 


*  Wood  Furman's  "  History  of  the  Charleston  Association,"  p.  78. 


HISTORY   OF  THE   OLD   CHERAWS.  441 

the  war.  He  was  a  native  of  INIarylandj  and  served  during 
the  Eevohition  in  the  Maryland  line.  He  distinguished 
himself  in  the  battles  of  Monmouth  and  Hobkirk's  Hill, 
and  in  the  disastrous  conflict  at  Camden,  where  he  was 
taken  prisoner  with  De  Kalb.  When  General  Washington 
accepted  the  command  of  the  army,  in  1798,  during  the  im- 
pending difficulties  with  France,  Mr.  Smith  received  the 
appointment  of  colonel,  which  he  accepted  at  the  earnest 
solicitation  of  the  commander  in  chief.*  Colonel  Smith 
filled  several  offices  of  honor  and  trust  "in  Darlington,  and 
was  highly  respected  to  the  close  of  his  life.  He  left  no 
descendants  bearing  his  name.  Andrew  and  Ralph,  two 
brothers,  followed  him  to  Pedee.  Colonel  Andrew  Smith 
also  served  in  the  ISIaryland  line.  He  was  a  prominent 
merchant  in  the  early  history  of  the  town  of  Cheraw,  and 
died  there.      Ralph    Smith    settled    and    died    in    Marion. 

Captain  Campbell,  who  had  been  an  officer  in  the  British 
service,  settled  in  Marlborough,  and  continued  to  reside 
there  until  his  death.  The  family  became  prominently  con- 
nected with  this  region.  His  sons,  Robert  and  John,  who 
were  gentlemen  of  amiable  traits  and  large  popularity,  be- 
came distinguished,  having  both  been  members  of  Congress 
from  the  Pedee  District. 

Gavin  Witherspoon  removed,  after  the  war,  to  Darling- 
ton. He  was  a  true  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  having 
served  under  ^Marion.  Many  incidents  are  related  of  his 
prowess.  The  late  John  D.  Witherspoon,  so  well  known  in 
Darlington,  was  his  son. 

The  name  of  William  Falconer,  afterwards  so  distin- 
guished on  the  Pedee,  appears  about  this  period.  He  was 
a  native  of  Scotland,  and  educated  in  or  ■  near  Glasgow. 
]Mr.  Falconer  came  first  to  Charles-town,  as  amanuensis  for 
a  Scotchman,  Dr.  Black,  a  man  of  some  literary  attainment, 
but  blind.  In  1785,  William  Falconer  advertised  in  the 
Charles-town  papers  as  writing  master,  not,  as  it  would  be 
now-a-days,  a  professor  of  penmanship.  His  aspiring  genius, 
not  content  with  such  a  position,  soon  looked  in  another 
dii'cctiou,  and    in   1787  his  name  appears  as  an  attorney  in 


*  Mill's  "  Statistics  of  So.  Ca.,"  p.  517. 


442  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

the  records  of  Cheraw  District.  He  settled  first  at  Long 
Bluffy  and  soon  afterwards  married  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Powe,  selecting  a  home  four  miles  above  Society  Hill,  in 
Chesterfield,  where  he  continued  to  reside.  Mr.  Falconer 
became  a  prominent  member  of  St.  David^s  Society,  and 
the  leader  of  the  Bar  on  Pedee.  »  His  career  as  a  lawyer 
and  public  man  was  one  of  marked  success,  as  will  appear 
hereafter. 

Major  Drury  Robertson  came  to  Marlborough  after  the 
war,  and  was  prominent  there  for  many  years,  taking  a 
leading  part  in  the  affairs  of  that  district.  He  was  a  ma- 
ternal grandfather  of  the  late  Colonel  William  T.  Ellerbe,  of 
Marlborough. 

The  name  of  Alexr.  Craig  appears  in  the  records  of  Ches- 
terfield during  the  Revolution.  His  brother,  John  Craig, 
then  quite  young,  was  long  after  known  as  a  worthy  man 
and  useful  citizen,  having  been  connected  for  many  years 
with  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  Ordinary  for  that 
district.  He  married  a  Miss  Chapman,  and  reared  a  large 
family,  the  most  of  whom,  or  their  descendants,  yet  reside 
in  Chesterfield. 

Allen  and  John  Chapman  emigrated  shortly  after  the 
Revolution,  from  Westmoreland,  Virginia,  to  Chesterfield, 
The  former  was  a  trooper  in  the  Virginia  line  during  the 
war.  He  settled  first  in  the  lower  part  of  the  district,  and 
afterwards  moved  a  few  miles  above  Cheraw,  where  he  lived 
and  died.  His  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Powe. 
He  afterwards  married  Eleanor,  a  daughter  of  Captain 
William  Dewitt,  and  reared  a  large  family,  as  did  his 
brother   John.      They  were  useful  and  respected  citizens. 

Baron  de  Poelnittz,  moved  by  the  spirit  of  his  distin- 
guished countrymen,  Kosciusco,  Pulaski,  and  others,  came 
fi'om  Poland,  to  join  the  American  standard  in  the  cause  of 
freedom.  He  made  a  large  purchase  of  land  on  the  Pedee,^ 
and   soon   after  the    war,  settled  on   the  east  side    of  the 


*  The  nut-grass,  now  so  formidable  an  enemy  of  many  of  the  planters  in  this 
region,  is  said  to  have  been  first  brought  by  William  Allston,  to  the  place  which 
Earon  de  Poelnittz  afterwards  purchased. 

The  firstEnglish  settlers  brought  the  hawthorn  with  them  for  hedges.  Some 
remains  of  it  are  yet  to  be  seen  in  certain  localities  on  the  river. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHE  RAWS. 


443 


river,  in  .tlie  lower  part  of  Marlborough.  He  came  up  the 
river,  witli  his  effects,  in  a  boat  from  George-town.  The 
baron  had  three  sons — 'Charles,  Alexander,  and  John.  The 
first  died  early.  His  only  daughter,  Elizabeth,  is  said  to 
have  been  a  very  beautiful  and  accomplished  lady.  She 
married,  first  Charles  Stuart,  then  Colonel  Thomas  Evans, 
and  finally  became  the  wife  of  Robeson  Carlos.  Mr.  Carlos 
emigrated  from  Virginia  to  Pedee  about  1790,  and  was  a 
prominent  and  useful  man.  Baron  de  Poelnittz  died  about 
the  close  of  the  century.  None  of  his  descendants,  who 
bear  the  name,  remain  on  the  Pedee. 

William  Harllee,  the  first  of  the  name  who  came  to 
Carolina,  was,  in  early  life,  a  captain  in  the  British  navy. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  the  rebellion  of  the  Stuarts  in 
1745,  and  was  forced  to  emigrate  to  America.  He  settled 
in  Richmond  County,  North  Carolina,  near  the  State  line. 
His  son  Thomas  came  to  Marion  about  the  close  of  the 
century,  and  was  the  father  of  the  late  Colonel  David  S. 
Harllee,  of  Cheraw,  and  other  members  of  the  family,  who 
have  been  prominent  citizens  of  Marion. 

Soon  after  1790,  Adam  Marshall  settled  at  Long  Bluff. 
He  had  previously  taught  school  on  Poke  Swamp,  in  Marion. 
He  married,  in  May,  1791,  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Captain 
James  Gregg.  Mr.  Marshall  entered  upon  a  successful 
career  as  a  merchant,  and  amassed  a  large  fortune.  He 
died  in  Charles-town,  where  he  had  gone  on  a  visit  of 
business. 

John  Punch,  in  1 793,  and  Drs.  Oliver  Hawes  and  Miles 
King,  were  soon  after  added  to  this  community.  Dr.  Hawes 
came  from  Wrenthara,  Massachusetts,  and  married  Mary 
Lee,  of  George-town.  He  secured  an  extensive  practice, 
and  was  esteemed  for  all  those  virtues  which  adorn  the  life 
of  the  man  and  citizen.  A  Federalist  by  early  sympathy, 
he  took  an  active  part  in  the  political  excitements  which 
followed  this  period.  Dr.  Hawes  was  for  years  President  of 
the  St.  David's  Society.  His  useful  life  was  brought  to  a 
close  in  1821. 

After  the  war,  George  and  William  Strother  settled  near 
Cheraw  Hill.  They  were  sons  of  Charles  Strother,  Avho 
emigrated;  at  an  early  period,  from  Virginia  to  Charleston, 


444  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

where  lie  continued  to  reside,  thougli  interested  in,  and 
giving  some  assistance  to,  St,  David^s  Parish.  During  the 
Revolution,  George  Strother  was  an  officer  in  Capt.  Thomas 
Ellerbe^s  company.  Soon  after,  he  married  a  daughter  of 
Captain  Ellerbe.  Mrs.  Strother  survived  her  husband  many 
years.  William,  the  other  brother,  after  residing  some  time 
in  Charles- town,  moved  to  Cheraw,  and  married  a  third 
wife,  Lucy  Hicks,  who  survived  him.  She  afterwards  went, 
with  her  children,  to  Alabama. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  445 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

Senators  and  representatives  elected  for  St.  David's — Justices  appointed  for  the 
three  counties — Other  elections — Ordinance  for  opening  navigation  of 
Lynche's  and  Black  Creeks — Commissioners  for  same — Results  of  these 
efforts — Numher  in  Pedee  and  Cheraw  Regiments — Delegates  from  St. 
David's  to  Convention  in  Charles-town  to  ratify  Federal  Constitution— Vote 
of  St.  David's — Petition  to  Legislature  from  Cheraws  for  a  circulating 
medium — Senator  and  representatives  elected  for  St.  David's,  October,  1788 
— Petition  from  Cheraws  for  light  troop  of  horse — Proceedings  thereon — 
Officers  of  same — Delegates  from  St.  David's  to  Convention  for  fi-aming  new 
State  Constitution — Elections,  and  justices  appointed,  for  Cheraws  District — 
Senators  and  representatives  elected — County  Court  system  re-modelled — 
County  Court  Judges  appointed,  and  Justices  of  Peace — Act  for  opening 
navigation  of  the  Pedee,  and  Lynche's  and  Black  Creeks — Commissioners  f»r 
same — Exhibition  of  St.  David's  Academy — Death  of  Dr.  James  P.  Wilson 
— Equity  circuits  established — That  for  Cheraws — Population  of  Cheraws 
District — Representatives  elected  for  the  three  counties — Petition  as  to  the 
paper  medium,  and  action  thereon — County  Judges  elected,  and  other  officers 
■ — Colonel  Benton  in  Congress — Tristram  Thomas  elected  brigadier-general 
— Colonel  Benton  resigns  in  consequence — Inhabitants  of  Cheraws  meet 
about  Jay's  Treaty — Great  freshets  in  Pedee — Embankments  on  the  river 
— Representatives  elected — Petition  for  navigation  of  Lowder's  Lake — 
Commissioners — Results — Regiments  of  Cheraw  Brigade — Petition  as  to 
inspectors  of  beef,  &c.,  at  George-town,  and  result — County  Judges  elected — 
Pftition  for  canal  fi-om  Roger's  Lake  to  Pedee,  and  result — Petition  of  Robert 
Ellison — Elections  for  Cheraws  District — Legislative  canvass  in  Darlington 
— Elections  for  Legislature — William  Falconer — County  Courts  abolished 
— Circuit  Courts  established— Officers  elected  for  the  three  districts — 
Dividing  line  between  Chesterfield  and  Darlington — Canvass  for  Legislature 
in  Darlington — Samuel  Wilds — Elections  for  Legislature — Chesterfield 
regimental  return — Cheraw  Brigade — Colonel  Spencer — Account  of,  and 
anecdote — Town  of  Cheraw — History  of — Name  of  Chatham  dropped — Its 
later  history — Population  of  Cheraws  District — Citizens  commemorate 
death  of  Washington — Account  of  Mr.  Pugh — Cheraws  District  passes  away 
— William  Falconer,  notice  of,  letter  to  Alexander  Craig,  and  death. 

Amid  the  blessings  of  peace  and  returning  prosperity^  the 
country  was  henceforth  to  progress,  and  a  settled  course 
of  legislative  administration  to  be  adopted.  The  preceding- 
forms  of  government  having  been  of  a  temporary  character^, 
important  constitutional  changes  were  to  be  made.  In 
November,  1786,  William  Thomas  was  elected  Senator;  and 
Calvin  Spencer,  Robert-  Baxter,  INIorgan  Brown,  Andrew 
Hunter,  Lemuel  Benton,  and  William  Strothcr,  Representa- 
tives  for   St.  David's.      Mr.   Thomas   was   opposed  for  the 


446  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

Senate  by  Dr.  James  P.  Wilson.  With  the  exception  of 
Morgan  Brown,  the  members  elect  took  their  seats  in 
January  following.  In  March,  the  following  justices  were 
appointed,  Adz. : — for  Marlborough,  Hon.  William  Thomas, 
Colonel  Thomas  Lide,  William  Easterling,  and  Samuel 
Brown ;  for  Chesterfield,  Thomas  Ellerbe,  Samuel  Taylor, 
Robert  Lowry,  and  David  Perkins ;  for  Darlington,  John 
M'Call,  Robert  Brounfield,  Albert  Fort,  Robert  Allison,  and 
Enoch  Evans.  Some  of  the  justices,  formerly  appointed, 
retained  their  positions.  At  this  session,  Benjamin  Rogers 
was  elected  Sheriff  for  Cheraws  District,  and  Lemuel  Ben- 
ton, Escheator.  A  petition  was  presented  to  the  House 
from  sundry  inhabitants  in  the  Counties  of  Marlborough 
and  Chesterfield,  for  the  establishment  of  a  ferry  between 
Long  Bluff  and  Cheraw  Hill.  An  ordinance  was  passed, 
March  27,  for  opening  the  navigation  of  Lynchers  and 
Black  Creeks.  For  the  former,  James  Marshall,  John 
Dick,  Elias  Du  Bose,  Roger  Wilson,  Daniel  Du  Bose,  John 
Smith,  Zachariah  Nettles,  Robert  Ellison,  John  Day,  Josiah 
Cookfield,  Lewis  Harall,  James  Brown,  Avistin  Stone,  John 
James,  John  Piggott,  Robert  Carter,  James  Snow,  and 
W'illiam  Goddard,  were  appointed  Commissioners.  For 
Black  Creek,  Henry  Cannon,  John  Peoples,  James  William- 
son, Michael  Russell,  William  M'Muldrough,  Andrew 
Hunter,  Albert  Fort,  John  Powell,  William  Williams,  John 
King,  and  Edward  Cooper.  In  the  absence  of  better 
facilities  for  transportation,  especially  in  the  case  of  the 
inhabitants  residing  on  Lynchers  Creek,  the  navigation  of 
these  streams,  it  was  supposed,  would  be  a  great  public 
benefit.  No  important  advantages,  however,  were  obtained. 
This  and  other  efibrts  in  the  same  direction,  show,  at  least, 
that  the  work  of  internal  improvements  was  not  neglected. 

According  to  the  general  return  of  the  militia  of  the 
State,  as  reviewed  in  1787  and  1788,  of  the  brigade,  em- 
bracing Berkeley  and  Craven  Counties,  the  Pedee  Regiment, 
Colonel  John  Baxter,  numbered  1000,  and  the  Cheraw  Re- 
giment, Colonel  Lemuel  Benton,  the  same. 

At  the  session  of  the  Legislature,  January,  1788,  the 
same  members  appeared  as  the  year  previous  for  St.  David's. 
The  most  important  subject  brought  up  for  consideration  at 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  447 

this  session  was  the  ratification  of  the  Federal  Constitution^ 
adopted  in  SciJtember  of  the  previous  year  by  a  convention 
of  delegates  assembled  in  Philadelphia  for  that  purpose. 

It  was  resolved^  that  elections  should  be  held  in  April, 
for  delegates  (to  consist  of  a  number  equal  to  that  of  the 
senators  and  representatives  from  the  several  districts  and 
parishes  respectively) ,  to  meet  in  Charles-town  the  following 
May.  For  St.  David's  Parish,  the  following  gentlemen 
were  elected  delegates  to  this  convention,  viz.  : — Colonel 
Lemuel  Benton,  Major  Tristram  Thomas,  Captain  William 
Dewitt,  Captain  Calvin  Spencer,  Captain  S.  Taylor,  Doctor 
R.  Brownfield,  and  Benjamin  Hicks,  jun.*  The  Legislature 
adjom-ned  on  the  29th  of  February,  to  meet  in  Charles-town 
7th  of  October. 

The  delegates  met  in  convention  the  12th  of  May.  On  a 
motion  for  the  ratification  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  it  was 
carried  by  a  vote  of  149  to  73 — the  delegates  from  St. 
David's  voting  in  the  afiBrmative.  Major  Thomas  was 
absent.  On  a  motion  made  by  Mr.  Justice  Burke,  and 
seconded  by  Major  Snipes,  to  restrict  the  re-eligibility  of 
the  president  of  the  United  States  after  the  first  term,  the 
vote  of  St.  David's  was  in  the  negative. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  October,  Major 
Thomas  presented  a  petition,  signed  by  John  Pledger,  Wil- 
liam Standard,  and  many  others,  in  these  words,  viz.  : — ''  The 
petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Cheraws  District,  humbly 
sheweth,  that  your  petitioners  labour  under  many  and 
great  grievances,  for  the  want  of  a  circulating  medium  to 
enable  us  to  discharge  our  debts ;  for  the  want  of  which, 
many  of  our  fellow-citizens  have  had  their  property  seized 
and  sold  at  sheriff's  sale,  not  to  the  amount  of  one-tenth  of 
its  value,  and  many  others  are  expecting  the  same  fate.  We, 
your  petitioners,  therefore  humbly  pray,  that  your  honora- 
ble body  will  take  our  distresses  into  your  serious  consider- 
ation, and   pass   a  law,   that    the    creditor    shall    take    the 


*  The  election  was  held  for  St.  David's  on  the  10th  April,  at  Kimhrough's  Mill, 
afterwaidij  known  as  Gilxson's  Mill,  on  tlie  road  from  Society  Hill  to  Georo'e- 
town  ;  on  11th  April  at  Chesterfield,  C.H. ;  on  the  12th  at  Marlborough,  CJl. 
William  Pegues,  Lemuel  Benton,  and  Tristram  Thomas  were  the  mauacers 
appointed  to  conduct  the  election  at  the  several  places  named. 


448  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

property  of  his  debtor  at  its  value ;  or  strike  a  circulating 
medium,  and  exchange  it  for  indents,  and  that  the  medium 
shall  be  received  by  sheriffs  at  their  sales ;  or  that  you  will 
grant  us  such  other  relief,  as  to  you,  in  your  wisdom,  shall 
seem  meet,  &c/^ 

The  Act  which  had  been  passed  in  1785,  to  establish  a 
medium  of  circulation  by  way  of  loans,  afforded  only  tem- 
porary advantages.  It  caused  the  ruin  of  many,  and  the 
public  suffered  seriously  in  the  end  *  Hence  the  petition 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Cheraws. 

At  the  November  election,  1788,  for  St.  David^s,  Morgan 
Brown  was  returned  Senator  ;  and  Robert  Ellison,  Charles 
Evans,  Thomas  Evans,  Robert  Brownfield,  Drury  Robert- 
son, and  Henry  Cannon,  Representatives.  The  Legislature 
met  in  January,  and  continued  to  sit  about  three  months. 
During  the  session,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  Governor 
from  several  of  the  inhabitants  of  Cheraws  District,  setting 
forth,  ''  that  the  good  citizens  in  these  extreme  parts  of  the 
State  are  much  exposed  to  the  depredations  of  horse-thieves, 
and  other  violaters  of  the  laws,  which  are  thereby  rendered 
less  vigorous,  and  are  more  contemned  than  is  consistent 
with  the  welfare  and  safety  of  those  who  Hve  under  their 
protection.  That  infantry,  of  whom  the  militia  is  com- 
posed, have,  from  the  tardiness  of  their  motions,  been  found 
by  the  experience  of  many  years,  insufficient  to  apprehend 
and  bring  to  justice  many  depredators,  who  therefore  act 
almost  at  discretion,  with  impunity;  that  there  are  several 
instances  of  notorious  offenders,  after  search  warrants  and 
other  precepts  have  been  issued  against  them,  exulting, 
nevertheless,  in  their  crimes,  and  openly  threatening  the 
murder  and  destruction  of  peaceable  citizens ;  who  yet,  for 
want  of  a  force  sufficient  to  apprehend  them,  elude  the 
punishment  which,  in  such  cases,  the  law  provides.  That 
your  petitioners  humbly  conceive,  that  an  independent, 
volunteer  troop  of  horse,  composed  of  the  inhabitants,  pro- 
perly accoutred,  subject  to  the  command  of  their  own 
officers,  and  commissioned  by  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
would  contribute  much  to  remove,  if  not   entirely  to  pre- 


*  latroduction  to  Brevard's  "  Digest,"  p. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  449 

vent,  the  aforesaid  grievances,  and  others  of  the  like  nature. 
That  several  of  the  principal  inhabitants  have  agreed  to  form 
themselves  into  such  a  troop,  to  consist  of  a  captain,  two 
lieutenants,  a  cornet,  and  forty  privates  ;  and  have  elected 
Samuel  Taylor,  captain,  to  command  them  ;  and  have  also 
agreed,  that  from  and  immediately  after  their  officers  shall 
have  been  commissioned,  as  aforesaid,  they  will,  with  all  pos- 
sible despatch,  co-operate  with  and  assist  within  their  own 
district,  each  and  every  oflBcer  of  this  State  in  the  legal 
discharge  of  his  or  their  duty,  when  thereunto  required. 
Wherefore,  your  petitioners  humbly  pray  your  Excellency 
to  establish  the  said  troop  of  horse,  by  the  name  of  the 
Chatham  Light  Horse  ;  to  commission  the  aforesaid  Samuel 
Taylor,  captain;  Holden  Wade,  1st  lieutenant;  Benjamin 
Hicks,  sen.,  2nd  lieutenant ;  and  Thomas  Godfrey,  cornet, 
to  command  the  same,  &c.^^ 

Signed  by 

Thomas  Powe  Leml.  Cox  Jepson 

Samuel  Taylor  Nathan  Leavens  worth 

Holden  Wade  Benjamin  Rogers,  jun. 

Benjamin  Hicks  Alexander  Powe 

Thomas  Godfrey  William  Powe 

W^illiam  Pegues  George  Hicks 

Allen  Chapman  Claudius  Pegues,  sen. 

William  Falconer  Claudius  Pegues,  jun. 
Frederick  Fort             -  Duncan  M'Rae 

Erasmus  Powe  Thomas  Ellerbe 

Benjamin  Hicks,  jun.  W^illiam  Ellerbe. 
Alexander  Craig 

Whereupon,  the   Governor,  Thomas   Pinckney,  made  the 
following  communication  to  the  Upper  House  : — 

"  Mr.  President,  and  Honorable  Gentlemen  of  the 
"  Senate. 

"  Honorable  Gentlemen  : 

"  As  it  does  not  appear  to  me  that  the  Executive  is  vested 

by  the  existing  militia  law,  with  power  to  grant  the  prayer  of 

the  petition,  which  accompanies  this  communication,  and  as 

I   think   the  establishment   desired    would  be   beneficial,   I 

Q  G 


450  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

have  referred  the  matter  to  the  determination  of  the  Legis- 
lature. 

"  Thomas  Pinckney. 

«  Cbarles-town,  I7th  Jany.,  1789." 

The  foregoing  was  referred  to  a  committee,  consisting  of 
Mr.  Brown,  Mr.  Walker,  and  Colonel  Hampton ;  and  in  the 
House,  to  a  committee,  consisting  of  Mr.  Justice  Grimke, 
Mr.  Waties,  Dr.  Irvine,  with  the  members  for  St.  David^s. 
Favorable  action  was  taken,  and  the  troop  organized, 
much,  doubtless,  to  the  relief  of  the  good  citizens  of  Pedee, 
and  the  increase  of  the  military  ardor  of  the  people. 

Another  matter,  aflFecting  the  interests  of  some  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Cheraws,  as  well  as  the  public  at  large,  came 
before  the  Legislature,  under  a  petition,  setting  forth,  ''  that 
a  tobacco  inspection,  on  the  north-east  side  of  the  Pedee 
Eiver,  about  ten  miles  above  Clieraw  Hill,  at  the  head  of 
navigation,  would  be  a  considerable  advantage  to  the  State, 
there  being  a  large  quantity  of  tobacco  made  on  that  side 
of  the  river ;  and  the  inconveniency  of  crossing  to  the 
Cheraw  Hill,  occasions  it  to  be  carried  to  Cross  Creek.  We, 
therefore,  recommend  Paiker's  Ferry  as  a  convenient  place, 
and  William  Pegues,  Thomas  Powe,  and  Claudius  Pegiies, 
jun.,  Esqrs.,  for  commissioners  ;  and  as  the  proprietor  will 
build  warehouses,  and  furnish  scales  and  weights  at  his  own 
expense,  we  hope  that  your  honorable  body  will  establish 
it  there,  &c.'' 

Signed  by 
Thomas  Powe  George  Hicks 

William  Pegues  Tristram  Thomas 

Allen  Chapman  Samuel  Taylor 

Claudius  Pegues,  sen.  Lemuel  Benton 

Claudius  Pegues,  jun.  William  Thomas. 

Tlie  committee  reported  favorably,  and  an  Act  was 
passed  accordingly.  At  this  session,  the  important  subject 
of  a  new  State  Constitution  was  agitated,  resulting  in  the 
determination  of  the  Legislature  that  an  election  should  be 
holden  on  the  26th  and  27th  of  October  ensuing,  for  delegates 
to  a  convention,  to  meet  in  Columbia,  on  the  2nd  Monday 
in  May,  1790,  to  consider  the  matter  of  the  said  Constitu- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  451 

tion.  For  St.  David's  Parish,  Calvin  Spencer,  Benjamin 
Hicks,  Lemuel  Benton,  Robert  Ellison,  Charles  Evans, 
Morgan  Brown,  and  llcv.  Evan  Pugh  were  duly  elected 
delegates. 

At  the  session  of  1789,  Lemuel  Benton  was  elected 
Sheriff  for  Cheraws  District,  and  Benjamin  Ilicks,  Clerk  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  And  the  following  Justices, 
viz. : — for  Marlborough,  Drury  Robertson ;  for  Ches- 
terfield, Duncan  M'Rae  and  John  Brown  ;  for  Darlington, 
Alexander  Mcintosh  and  Absolom  Sauls.  Robert  Baxter, 
one  of  the  Representatives  from  St.  David's,  died  during  the 
session. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Legislature,  Jan.  1790,  Henry 
Cannon  and  Charles  Evans  appear  to  have  been  the  only 
members  present  from  St.  David's.  On  the  20th  of  Jan.  the 
following  County  Court  Justices  were  appointed : — for 
Darlington,  Samuel  Mathis,  Henry  Cannon,  and  Dr.  Robert 
Norris. 

The  Convention  met  in  Columbia  in  May.  The  Con- 
stitution was  adopted  on  the  3rd  of  June.  It  gave  the 
Counties  of  Marlborough,  Chesterfield,  and  Darlington  two 
representatives  each,  and  for  the  three,  two  senators.  At 
the  ensuing  election,  Morgan  Brown  and  Robert  Ellison 
were  returned  Senators.  Thomas  Evans  and  John  Jones 
James,  Representatives  for  jNIarlborough.  Thomas  Powe 
and  Charles  Evans  for  Chesterfield.  John  Huggins  and 
Moses  Fort  for  Darlington.  John  M'Ree  was  elected 
Representative  for  Liberty.  The  Legislature  met  on  the 
4th  Monday  in  Nov.  Under  the  classification  of  the  Senators 
elect,  which  had  been  adopted,  Morgan  Brown  took  his  seat 
for  four,  and  INIr.  Ellison  for  two  years.  During  this 
session,  an  Act  was  passed,  remodelling  the  County  Court 
system.  "  Three  Judges  or  Justices  of  the  County  Courts 
were  chosen  for  each  county,  by  joint  ballot  of  the  two 
Houses  of  the  Legislature,  to  preside  in  the  respective 
Courts,  which  were  held  semi  annually  for  the  trial  of  causes ; 
but  they  were  allowed  no  compensation  for  their  services. 
Two  intermediate  courts  were  holdcn  annually,  for  the 
transaction  of  business  relating  to  roads,  taverns,  and  the 
poor. 

G  G  2 


452  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

"  Althougti  the  administration  of  justice  in  these  Courts 
>vas  irregular^  and  in  many  instances  unequal,  owing  chiefly 
to  the  want  of  legal  information  in  those  who  were  ap- 
pointed to  preside  therein,  yet  they  were  a  great  convenience 
to  the  community,  considering  the  defects  of  the  Circuit 
Court  system  of  that  day;  and  much  good,  as  well  as  some 
evil,  resulted  from  their  establishment.  It  was  an  im- 
portant step  towards  the  attainment  of  that  improved  sys- 
tem which  afterwards  existed/^^ 

The  number  of  justices  for  each  county,  being  now 
limited  to  three,  the  position  became  correspondingly  re- 
sponsible and  important. 

In  Jan.  1791,  the  Legislature  elected,  as  County  Court 
Judges,  for 

Marlborough,  Morgan  Brown,  Tristram  Thomas,  and 
William  Thomas. 

For  Chesterfield,  Wm.  Pegues,  Thos.  Powe,  and  Calvin 
Spencer. 

For  Darlington,  Robert  Ellison,  Lemuel  Benton,  and  John 
Smith. 

And  as  Justices  of  Quorum  and  the  Peace, 

For  Marlborough. 

Geo.  Hicks  Samuel  Brown 

Thos.  Evans  Wm.  Easterling 

Drury  Robertson  Richard  Brockington 

Moses  Pearson  William  Legg 
John  Wilson 

For  Chesterfield. 

Samuel  Taylor  Christopher  Vernon 

Charles  Evans  Thos.  Blakeney 

Wm.  Strother  Wm.  Powe 

Robert  Lowry  Benjamin  Rogers 
David  Perkins 

For  Darlington. 

John  B.  Turner  Alexander  M'Intosh 

Absolom  Sauls  Wm.  M'Muldrough 

John  M'Call  L.  Stanley,  jun. 

Albert  Fort  Wm.  Dewitt 
Henry  Cannon 


Brevard's  "  Introduction,"  p.  xvi. 


HISTORY    OF   THE   OLD    CHEHAWS.  453 

On  the  15th  of  January,  the  House  was  iuformcd  by  Thos. 
Powe,  one  of  the  members  elect  for  St.  David^s,  that  he 
declined  taking  his  seat ;  and  a  new  election  was  thereupon 
ordered.  Lemuel  Benton  was  elected  Sheriff  for  Cheraws 
District.  At  this  session,  an  Act  was  passed  for  improving 
the  navigation  of  certain  streams.  Among  others,  Great 
Pedee  River,  and  Lynchers,  Black,  Jeffrey^s  and  Cat  Fish 
Creeks.  Tristram  Thomas,  Morgan  Brown,  Wm.  Pegues, 
Baron  de  Poehiittz,  Alexander  M'lntosh,  Moses  Pearson, 
Wm.  Strother,  Nathanael  Saunders,  Samuel  Benton,  Thomas 
Evans,  and  Richard  Brockingtou,  were  appointed  Commis- 
sioners for  the  work  on  the  Great  Pedee,  from  the  North 
Carolina  line  down  to  the  mouth  of  Black  Creek,  under  the 
name  of  the  Upper  Board  of  Commissioners  on  Pedee. 
The  Lower  Board,  from  the  mouth  of  Black  Creek  to 
Euhaney  Ferry,  consisted  of  William  Wilson,  John  M'Kee, 
Moses  Mm'phy,  Gavin  Witherspoon,  John  Witherspoon, 
John  Dozier,  John  Porter,  Shadrach  Simons,  John  Gregg, 
Thos.  Benton,  Abel  Goodman,  and  Jas.  Green. 

For  Black  Creek,  from  its  mouth  up  to  the  Fork,  the 
Commissioners  appointed,  were  Lawtermore  Edwards,  Wm. 
M'lMuldrough,  Andrew  Hunter,  Henry  Cannon,  John  King, 
John  Saunders,  and  Albert  Fort.  For  Lynchers  Creek, 
from  the  plantation  of  Capt.  Charles  Evans,  down  to  the 
Effingham  Mills,  to  be  known  as  the  Upper  Board  ;  Need- 
ham  Lee,  Daniel  Du  Bose,  John  Castle,  John  Huggins, 
James  Marshall,  Charles  Evans,  George  Evans,  John  Pigot, 
Elias  Du  Bose,  and  Absolom  Sauls.  And  from  the  Effing- 
ham Mills  to  the  mouth  of  the  Creek,  as  the  Lower  Board, 
were  William  Goddard,  Austin  Stone,  John  Saunders,  Lewis 
Harrall,  John  Smith,  Robert  Ellison,  John  James,  James 
Brown,  Isaiah  Cookfield,  Zachariah  Cato,  and  Zachariah 
Nettles. 

Saturday,  18th  of  June,  of  this  year,  was  a  day  famous 
in  the  history  of  the  St.  David's  Society.  The  exhibition 
of  the  students  attracted  a  veiy  large  audience,  gathered  for 
a  distance  from  the  country  around,  and  was  said  to  have 
surpassed  any  ever  witnessed  before.  On  the  27th  of  July, 
this  society  lost  one  of  its  active  and  prominent  members, 
and  Cheraw  District  a  useful  citizen,  in   the  person  of  Dr. 


454  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

James     P.    Wilson.       He    died    at    his    residence,     Long 
Bluff.* 

In  1791,  the  Circuit  Court  for  the  District  of  Cheraws, 
was,  by  Actf  of  Assembly,  ordered  to  be  holden  at  "  The 
Cheraws.^^  This,  however,  was  not  done.  The  Court  con- 
tinued to  sit  at  Greenville,  as  before.  In  the  same  year,  it 
was  enacted,!  that  the  Court  of  Equity,  hitherto  sitting  in 
Charles-town,  should  be  held  at  Columbia,  for  the  Districts 
of  Camden,  Orangeburg,  and  Cheraw.  In  1799,  the  State 
was  divided  into  four  Equity  Circuits.  Of  these,  the 
Northern  was  composed  in  part  of  Marlborough,  Chester- 
field, and  Darlington,  the  Court  for  which  was  to  be  held 
at  Greenville.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  No- 
vember, the  following  Justices  of  the  Peace,  &c.,  were  ap- 
pointed, Adz.  :-^for  Marlborough,  Geo.  Cherry ;  and  for 
Darlington,  Robert  Lide,  John  Huggins,  Evander  M'lver, 
and  Elias  DuBose.  The  census  of  the  State  was  taken  in 
1792;  and  the  return  of  population  for  Cheraw  District, 
was  as  follows  : — 

Free  white  males  of  16  years  and  upwards      .  1779 

„        „          „        under  16  years      ....  1993 

„        „       females,  including  heads  of  families  3646 

All  other  free  persons 59 

Slaves 3229 

Total 10,706 

In  October  of  this  year,  Robert  Ellison,  whose  term  as 
senator  had  expired,  was  re-elected.  And,  as  Represen- 
tatives, for 

Marlborough, 
John  Jones  James,  Benjamin  Hicks. 

Chesterfield, 
Wm.  Falconer,  Wm.  Pegues. 

Darlington, 
Alexander  M'Intosh,  John  Smith. 


*  The  funeral  of  Dr.  Wilson  took   place  on   Sunday.     The   Rev.  Edmund 
Botsford  preached,  on  the  occasion,  an  appropriate  discourse,  from  1  Cor.  vii.  29. 
t  "Statutes  at  Large,"  p.  26L  J  Ibid,,  p.  288. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  455 

The  Legislature  met  on  the  4tli  Monday  in  November,  and 
on  the  3rd  of  December,  Mr.  Ellison  pi'esented  a  Petition  from 
sundry  inhabitants  of  Cheraw  District,  praying  the  passage 
of  a  law,  for  extending  the  time  limited  for  the  payment  of 
the  paper  medium  loaned  to  the  petitioners,  who  had 
suffered  so  much  in  their  crops  by  the  extraordinary 
drought  and  freshets  which  had  prevailed  during  the  pre- 
vious summer,  as  to  deprive  them  of  the  means  of  discharg- 
ing the  same.  It  was  referred  to  a  Committee,  consisting 
of  Mr.  Ellison,  General  Barnwell,  and  General  Pinckney, 
who  reported  favorably ;  and  a  bill  was  introduced  and 
passed  accordingly.  At  the  session  of  the  following  year, 
1793,  the  same  members  appeared  for  St.  David^s,  and  took 
their  seats.  For  Liberty,  John  Baxter,  and  Gavin  Wither- 
spoon  for  west  part  of  Liberty.  Alexander  Craig  was 
elected  County  Judge  for  Chesterfield  in  place  of  Samuel 
Taylor,  who  had  left  the  country;  and  Wm.  Falconer,  in 
place  of  Christopher  Vernon,  who  declined  serving.  For 
Marlborough,  Benjamin  Hicks,  in  the  room  of  Morgan 
Brown.  Robert  Ellison  was  elected  Sheriff,  and  Alexander 
Mcintosh,  Commissioner  of  Locations  for  Cheraws. 

Col.  Benton  was  now  in  Congress,  the  first  representa- 
tive in  that  body  from  the  Pedee  District.  His  political 
sentiments  were  very  decided,  and  honestly  and  fearlessly 
maintained  on  all  occasions.  In  certain  traits  of  character 
he  was  not  unlike  his  near  relative,  the  late  Senator  Benton, 
of  Missouri.  Col.  Benton  was  one  of  the  party  violently 
opposed  to  the  administration  of  John  Adams.  He  returned 
from  Philadelphia  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  1794,  to  be- 
come involved  for  a  time  in  a  warm  personal  controversy. 
An  extra  session  of  the  Legislature  had  been  called  to  meet 
in  Charleston,  in  May.  A  few  days  after  it  opened 
Major  Tristram  Thomas  was  elected  General  of  the  Cheraw 
Brigade.  Col.  Benton  felt  this  very  keenly,  his  friends 
attributing  it  to  the  fact  of  his  absence,  and  to  the  use  of 
unfair  means  on  the  part  of  his  opponent.  General  Tliomas, 
however,  was  worthy  of  the  position  and  of  all  honor, 
receiA^ing  a  reward  justly  due  for  his  past  services.  It  was 
a  matter  deeply  to  be  regretted,  that  these  gentlemen,  who 
had  so   lately  fought  side  by  side  for  their  couutry,  should 


456  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

thus  have  been  broiig;ht  into  antagonism,  and  especially  as 
to  a  point  so  deeply  touching  the  sensibilities  of  an  old 
soldier  as  that  of  military  precedence.  Col.  Benton  resigned 
his  command  of  the  Cheraw  Regiment,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Calvin  Spencer.  An  election  having  been  ordered, 
April  30th,  to  fill  the  place  of  senator,  made  vacant  by  the 
resignation  of  Mr.  Ellison,  who  had  been  elected  sheriff. 
Thomas  Powe  was  returned,  and  took  his  seat  at  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Legislature  in  Charleston. 

On  the  8th  of  Al^gust  a  large  number  of  the  citizens  of 
Cheraws  District  met  at  the  Court  House,  to  consider  the 
matter  of  Mr.  Jay^s  celebrated  treaty.  Of  the  result  of 
their  action  no  record  remains. 

On  the  18th  of  August  there  was  a  destructive  freshet  in 
the  Pedee.  The  river  was  higher  than  had  been  known 
since  1776.  In  the  latter  part  of  May  of  that  year  many 
of  the  inhabitants  were  forced  to  abandon  their  residences 
in  the  swamp,  and  fly  for  safety  to  the  highlands.  That 
rise  was  the  gi'catest  known  since  the  settlement  of  the 
country,  of  which  traditional  accounts  were  handed  down 
to  a  recent  period.  There  has  been  some  like  it  since. 
In  January,  1796,  another  memorable  rise  occurred.  It 
was  not  until  a  period  long  subsequent  that  attention  began 
to  be  turned  to  the  important  subject  of  embankments. 
The  means  of  the  earlier  settlers,  however,  were  not  equal 
to  works  of  that  kind  on  a  large  scale.  The  late  Gen.  D. 
R.  Williams,  of  Darlington,  is  believed  to  have  led  the  way 
in  this  kind  of  enterprise.  He  constructed  very  extensive 
embankments,  which  have  proved  of  incalculable  value  since. 

In  October  of  this  year  (1794)  some  very  serious  trouble 
(probably  insurrectionary)  was  anticipated,  and  a  strong 
guard  stationed  at  Long  Bluff.  Of  the  history  of  it,  how- 
ever, nothing  more  is  known. 

At  the  Fall  elections  the  following  representatives  were 
returned,  viz. :  for 

Marlborough,  Chesterfield,  Darlington, 

John  Jones  James.  Wm.  Falconer.  Richard  Brockington. 
Drury  Robertson.        James  Blakeney.   Ezekiel  DuBose. 

At  the  ensuing  session  of  the  Legislature   Gen.  Thomas 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  457 

presented  a  petition  from  sundry  inhabitants  of  Darlington^ 
for  opening  and  making  navigable  Lowder's  Lake^,  from 
Herring  Creek  to  the  mouth  thereof.  A  favorable  report 
was  made  on  the  subjeet,  and  an  Act  passed  appointing 
Richard  Brockington,,  Wm.  Brockington,  George  M'Call, 
and  Charles  Dewitt,  commissioners  for  carrying  the  same 
into  effect.  This  legislation  resulted  in  no  material  benefit. 
The  work,  if  begun,  is  supposed  to  have  been  abandoned 
soon  after.  At  this  session  a£1000  were  appropriated  for 
repaii'ing  the  Court  House,  and  the  erection  of  a  new  gaol 
at  Long  Bluff. 

Thomas  Evans  was  elected  County  Judge  for  Marlborough 
in  place  of  Wm.  Thomas,  resigned. 

Of  the  militia  of  the  State,  now  divided  into  nine  brigades, 
that  of  Cheraw,  being  No.  9,  consisted  of  three  regiments, 
viz. : — 

The  37th,  Col.  Thomas  Evans. 
„  38th,  Col.  Robert  Ellison. 
„    39th,  Col.  Calvin  Spencer. 

At  the  session  of  the  Legislature  of  the  following  year 
the  same  senators  and  representatives  appeared  for  Cheraw 
District  and  the  three  counties. 

At  this  session  Gen.  Thomas  presented  a  petition  from 
sundry  inhabitants  of  Cheraw  District,  praying  that  the 
House  would  not  grant  the  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of 
George-town,  respecting  the  appointment  of  commissioners 
to  elect  a  Measurer  of  lumber  and  an  Inspector  of  beef, 
pork,  and  flour  for  said  town.  The  petition  from  Cheraws 
was  successful,  as  no  act  appears  to  have  been  passed  on  the 
subject.  County  Judges  were  elected  as  follows  : — for 
Marlborough,  John  Jones  James,  in  place  of  Benj.  Hicks, 
who  had  left  the  country;  and  for  Darlington,  Alex. 
M'Intosh,  in  place  of  Robert  Ellison,  who  had  been  elected 
Sheriff  for  Cheraws. 

At  the  election  holden  in  October,  1796,  the  same  repre- 
sentatives were  returned,  with  the  exception  of  Richard 
Brockington,  who  was  succeeded  by  Andrew  Hunter,  for 
Darlington.  For  Liberty  were  returned  John  M'Ree  and 
Thomas  Wickham.  Wm.  Thomas  appeared  as  senator  in 
place   of  Thomas   Pow^e,   and   with    Gen.  Thomas,  took  his 


458  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

seat.  At  this  session  a  committee  was  appointed,  consisting 
of  Drury  Robertson,  Joshua  Saxon,  and  Mr.  Nott,  to  report 
how  the  amount  appropriated  for  repairing  the  Court  House 
and  building  a  new  gaol  at  Long  Bluff  had  been  expended. 
William  Thomas  was  chosen  one  of  eight  electors  to  cast  a 
vote  for  President  of  the  United  States.  Sundry  inhabi- 
tants of  Marlborough  had  petitioned  the  Legislature  for  a 
canal  to  lead  from  Roger's  Lake  into  Pedee  River,  and  an 
Act  was  passed  for  that  purpose,  appointing  Robert  Allison, 
Edward  Croslin,  and  Tristram  Thomas  commissioners,  who 
were  authorized  to  "  open  and  keep  in  repair  a  canal  of  not 
more  than  fifty  feet  in  width,  to  lead  from  any  part  of  the 
said  lake  to  such  point  on  the  river  as  they  might  deem  fit,^' 
and  also,  "  to  stop  up  Naked  Creek  at  any  point  deemed 
most  convenient,  diverting  the  waters  of  the  same  through 
the  said  lake  and  canal,  provided  the  expense  should  be 
defrayed  by  voluntary  subscriptions,  and  the  canal,  when  so 
opened,  be  free  to  all  citizens  and  the  country  at  large.^' 
The  proviso  of  the  act  probably  led  to  the  failure  of  the 
scheme. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  November,  1797,  the 
same  members  appeared  from  Pedee.  A  petition  was  pre- 
sented from  Robert  Ellison,  to  be  allowed  to  erect  mills  on 
Black  Creek.  A  counter  petition  was  also  offered,  object- 
ing to  the  same,  on  the  ground  that  it  would  obstruct  the 
navigation  of  said  creek.  The  matter  was  referred  to  a 
committee,  who  recommended  that  the  petition  of  Mr. 
Ellison  should  be  granted,  but  with  such  restrictions  and 
limitations  as  would  obviate  the  objections  raised. 

Alexander  ]\I'Intosh  was  elected  Sheriff  for  Cheraws  in 
the  place  of  Robert  Ellison,  resigned,  and  Drury  Robertson 
a  County  Judge  for  Marlborough. 

In  the  memorable  canvass  of  1798,  in  Darlington,  for  the 
Legislature,  a  name  appeared  which  was  destined  to  become 
distinguished  in  South  Carolina.  Samuel  Wilds  was  one  of 
four  candidates.  His  competitors  were  Andrew  Hunter,  of 
revolutionary  note,  Ezekiel  DuBose,  just  of  age,  and  Wm. 
Zimmerman.  Mr.  Wilds  was  then  in  his  twenty -third  year. 
His  early  struggles  against  what  seemed  to  be  the  most 
adverse  fortune  (for  he  was  very  poor,  and  left  in  charge  of 
a  large  family  of  younger  children,  for  whom  their  mother 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  459 

could  not  otherwise  provide),  had  of  necessity  kept  the 
sphere  of  his  labors  and  acquaintance  alike  limited.  He 
was  scarcely  known  beyond  his  immediate  ueighbonrhood, 
and  to  the  few  who  had  learned  to  appreciate  him,  only 
kuoAvn  as  a  young  man  of  promising  parts,  of  noble  cha- 
racter and  high  aspirations.  Mr.  Zimmerman  was  already 
a  public  man  of  prominent  position,  and  young  DuBose,  in 
addition  to  attractive  personal  traits,  had  the  advantage  of 
a  very  extensive  family  connexion  in  his  favor.  He  led  the 
ticket,  followed  by  Mr.  Zimmerman.  Young  Wilds  de- 
feated, but  not  disheartened,  for  he  was  moved  by  an  emu- 
lation worthy  of  his  future  success,  was  soon  to  take  the 
lead  in  turn,  and  reach  the  high  position  he  attained,  with  a 
rapidity  unprecedented,  perhaps,  in  the  history  of  the  State. 

The  former  members,  William  Falconer  and  James 
Blakeney,  were  returned  for  Chesterfield,  and  Drury  Robert- 
son for  Marlborough.  William  Whitfield  appeared  as  a  new 
member  for  the  same  county,  in  the  place  of  John  Jones 
James.  For  Liberty,  John  Ford  and  Lewis  Harralson  w^ere 
elected.  Captain  John  M'lver  was  returned  a  senator  in 
place  of  General  Thomas. 

Mr.  Falconer,  who  for  several  sessions  had  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  House  from  Chesterfield,  now  occupied  a  leading 
position  in  that  body.  Well  educated  and  thoroughly 
trained,  cool  and  fearless,  shrewd  as  he  was  sarcastic,  and 
ready  and  powerful  withal  in  debate,  he  had  few  equals,  and 
no  superior  in  these  respects,  perhaps,  in  the  halls  of  legis- 
lation or  the  forum.  He  was  the  acknowledged  head  of  the 
Cheraw  Bar,  and  was  hencefoi^th  to  have  his  name  indis- 
solubly  connected  with  the  most  important  change  in  the 
system  of  judicature  of  the  State  w^hich  had  yet  taken  place. 
''At  this  time,"  says  Judge  Brevard,  "  the  administration  of 
justice  was  extremely  tedious  and  defective.  The  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  County  Courts  was  very  limited,  and  in  many  of 
them  justice  was  dispensed  in  a  very  loose  and  imperfect 
manner.  The  accumulation  of  business  in  the  Circuit  Courts 
had  greatly  increased,  and  the  manner  of  despatching  it  w^as 
not  always  the  best  that  might  be  practised  to  answer  the 
purposes  of  public  justice,  and  give  satisfaction  to  the 
people. 

"  In  order  to  establish  a  uniform  and  more   convenient 


460  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

system  of  judicature,  a  bill  was  brought  forward  in  the 
Legislature  for  instituting  District  Courts,  in  the  several 
counties  of  the  State,  and  in  small  sections  of  that  part 
wherein  County  Courts  were  not  established,  and  to  arrange 
those  Courts  into  several  circuits  or  ridings. 

"  The  most  zealous  and  able  advocates  of  this  project,  were 
William  Falconer,  Esq.,  a  member  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, from  Chesterfield,  and  William  Marshall,  Esq., 
late  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Courts  of  Equity,  a  member  of 
the  Senate.      It  was  carried,  and  passed  into  a  law."*'* 

At  the  following  session,  the  same  members  appeared 
from  Pedee.  The  Circuit  Court  Act  of  the  previous  year 
was  revised  and  amended,  and  the  County  Courts,  which 
had  been  retained  in  it — with  very  limited  powers,  however 
— wei'e  now  for  ever  abolished.  The  system  for  the  ad- 
ministration of  justice,  thus  essentially  changed,  was  to  be 
carried  into  effect  as  speedily  as  possible. 

Sherifis  were  to  be  elected  for  them,  and  Courts  of 
Ordinary  also  established  in  the  several  districts,  and  other 
important  regulations  adopted. 

The  term  county  was  now  laid  aside,  and  that  of  district 
took  its  place,  which  has  since  been  retained.  The  following 
gentlemen  were  elected  sheriffs,  viz  : — For  Marlborough 
District,  Robert  Allison ;  for  Chesterfield,  Joel  Bullard ; 
for  Darlington,  Alexander  Mcintosh.  The  Commissioners 
appointed  for  building  and  repairing  the  several  Court  Houses 
and  gaols,  were  : — 

For  Marlborough, 

William  Thomas,  Thomas  Evans, 

Tristram  Thomas,  Benjamin  Rogers. 

Drury  Robertson, 

For  Chesterfield, 

William  Falconer,  Thomas  Powe, 

Calvin  Spencer,  Robert  Lowry. 

William  Pegues, 

For  Darlington, 

Robert  Ellison,  Andrew  Hunter. 

William  Zimmerman, 


*  Brevard's  "  Digest,"  Introduction,  p.  xix. 


HISTORY   OF    THE  OLD   CIIERAWS.  461 

The  dividing  line  between  Chesterfield  and  Darlington 
had  not,  up  to  this  time,  been  run  out. 

An  Act  was  accoi'dingly  passed  at  this  session,  appointing 
Alexander  Craig,  William  Falconer,  and  Erasmus  Powe, 
Commissioners  on  the  part  of  Chesterfield ;  and  Robert 
Ellison,  William  Zimmerman,  and  D.  R.  Williams  for  Dar- 
lington, to  establish  said  line.  For  some  reason  the  work 
was  not  done ;  and  a  second  Act  was  afterwards  passed, 
appointing  for  Chesterfield,  William  Falconer  and  Major 
John  Dewitt,  and  for  Darlington,  John  Norwood  and 
Alexander  Mcintosh,  to  run  out  and  mark  the  line,  as  fixed 
by  law. 

On  the  11th  of  April,  1800,  a  very  considerable  shock  of 
an  earthquake  was  felt  by  many  of  the  inhabitants  on  Pe- 
dee,  the  weather  at  the  time  being  cloudy  and  warm  for  the 
season. 

In  the  canvass  of  1800  for  the  Legislature,  another  ex- 
citing contest  took  place  in  Darlington.  The  same  candidates 
appeared  as  in  the  fall  of  1798;  also  Richard  Brockington. 
Samuel  Wilds,  having  been  since  at  the  Bar,  was  becoming 
more  widely  known,  and  being  superior  as  a  speaker  to  all 
his  competitors,  was  elected  without  difficulty.  William 
Zimmerman  retained  his  seat.  In  the  canvass  of  1802, 
which  was  also  warmly  contested,  such  was  the  popularity 
of  Mr.  Wilds,  that  he  received  the  unanimous  vote  of  the 
district,  with  but  one  exception,  and  that  the  vote  of  a  man 
whom  he  had  severely,  and,  doubtless,  very  justly  scourged 
in  Court.  The  same  members  were  returned  for  the  other 
districts,  except  Drury  Robertson,  of  Marlborough,  who  was 
succeeded  by  David  Stewart.  For  Liberty,  Philip  Bethea, 
sen.,  and  James  Ervin  were  elected.  Alexander  M'^Intosh 
was  returned  for  the  Senate,  in  the  place  of  William  Thomas, 
of  Marlborough.  William  Zimmerman  was  elected  sheriff, 
in  place  of  Alexander  M'Intosh,  now  in  the  Senate. 

About  the  year  1800,  the  total  militia  of  the  State,  ac- 
cording to  the  most  reliable  returns,  was  supposed  to  be 
35,785.  The  Cheraw  brigade.  No.  9,  numbered  2224.  On 
the  29th  of  November,  of  this  year,  the  following  return 
was  made  of  the  Chesterfield  regiment,  Colonel  Spencer 
commanding,  viz.  : — 


462 


HISTORY   OF   THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 


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HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  463 

Colonel  Spencer  became  actively  connected  with  St.  DavicPs 
Parish  before  the  war.  During  the  Revolution^  he  served 
in  several  military  capacities.  About  the  commencement 
of  the  struggle,  he  contracted  an  engagement  with  Rebecca 
Ford,  of  the  neighbourhood  of .  George-town,  and  saw  her 
but  once  while  the  conflict  continued.  It  was  on  this  occa- 
sion that  the  British,  then  in  possession  of  that  region, 
hearing  he  was  to  be  at  the  family  residence,  laid  a  plan  for 
his  capture.  Coming  suddenly  up,  they  surrounded  the 
dwelling;  the  active  lover,  however,  managing  to  escape  in 
time  to  reach  a  mill-pond  near  by,  into  which  he  plunged  so 
as  to  swim  across  and  elude  his  pursuers.  He  was  as  swiftly 
followed  and  fired  upon,  and  so  pressed,  that,  finding  escape 
hopeless,  he  surrendered  himself,  and  was  kept  in  confine- 
ment until  a  final  exchange  of  prisoners  at  the  cessation  of 
hostilities.  Soon  after  this,  he  married  Miss  Ford,  and  set- 
tled in  Chesterfield  District.  After  a  long  life  of  private 
■virtue  and  public  service,  having  filled  various  positions  of 
honour  and  trust,  his  career  was  finished  in  January,  1801.'^ 
Mrs.  Spencer  subsequently  married  Thomas  Powe,  the  friend 
and  companion,  in  peace  and  war,  of  her  late  husband.  She 
survived  ]Mr.  Powe  many  years,  and  died  about  1844,  at  an 
advanced  age. 

The  town  of  Cheraw  was  laid  out,  as  heretofore  men- 
tioned, about  the  year  1766.  Called  Chatham  soon  after, 
it  seems,  even  in  the  popular  language  of  the  day,  not  long 
to  have  retained  it.  The  name  does  not  often  appear  among 
the  records  of  the  country  immediately  succeeding  that 
period.       An  attempt  was  made  many  years  after  to  revive 


*  Among  the  effects  of  Colonel  Spencer  were  several  trunks  of  papers,  among 
whicli  were  many  letters  and  other  manuscript  matter  of  an  early  date,  and 
beyond  doubt  of  much  historical  value.  Mrs.  Spencer,  during  her  widowhood 
and  afterwards,  to  the  close  of  her  life,  preserved  these  papers  with  scrupulous 
care. 

Soon  after  her  death,  the  trunks,  the  contents  of  which  seem  never  to  have 
been  carefully  examined,  were  opened  by  her  representatives.  Such  land  papers 
as  were  supposed  to  be  of  value  were  taken  out,  and  the  rest  destroyed. 

To  much  disappointment  of  this  kind  was  the  Author  doomed,  in  his  search 
among  family  records  for  documentary  matter  connected  with  the  history  of  the 
Pedee,  but  in  scarce  another  instance,  to  one  like  this,  with  the  exception  of 
Colonel  Benton's,  the  most  valuable  collection,  perhaps,  in  this  region. 


464  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

and  continue  it^  but  failed.      It  was  generally  called  Cheraw 
Hill,  and  tlie  Cheraws. 

It  was  supposed  at  first,  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  neigh- 
bouring country,  that  on  account  of  its  position,  being  at 
the  head  of  navigation  on  the  river,  and  its  proximity  to  a 
large  and  fertile  region  in  North  Carolina,  it  would  become 
a  place  of  permanent  and  increasing  commercial  im- 
portance. It  was,  from  an  early  period  of  its  history,  the 
seat  of  several  extensive  trading  establishments ;  but  the 
expectation  of  the  public  was  in  the  end,  or  for  a  long  time  at 
least,  disappointed.  Having  failed  to  become  the  seat  of 
justice  for  Cheraws  District,  though  strenuous  efibrts  were 
made  to  have  it  so,  and  proving  at  times  very  unhealthy ; 
neither  its  population  nor  commerce  increased  as  rapidly  as 
was  anticipated.  It  was  described  by  one"^  who  remembered 
it,  as  it  was  about  1792,  to  have  contained  then  not  more 
than  a  dozen  houses.  In  1802,  a  writer  of  that  day,  allud- 
ing to  Chatham,  said  :  "  It  is  a  small  village,  situated  on 
Cheraw  Hill,  at  the  head  of  navigation  of  Pedee  River.  It 
contains  a  few  stores,  and  gives  encouragement  to  the  trade  of 
that  part  of  this  State,  which  is  partly  drawn  from  North 
Carolina,  by  the  Yadkin  river.  When  the  navigation  of 
this  river  becomes  open,  it  is  probable  this  settlement  will 
secure  advantages  from  the  additional  trade  which  will  then 
be  carried  on.^^f  The  navigation  of  the  river,  for  the  im- 
provement of  which  several  acts  had  at  different  times  been 
passed  by  the  Legislature,  was  not  effectually  opened,  until 
the  work  was  subsequently  undertaken  by  General  D.  R. 
Williams,  and  the  late  David  Gregg,  of  Society  Hill,  who 
carried  it  successfuly  into  execution.  There  were  not  only 
formidable  obstructions  in  the  shape  of  logs,  often  of  very 
large  size,  the  accumulation  of  ages ;  but  in  many  places 
the  channel  had  to  be  turned  or  cut  deeper,  with  a  bottom 
sometimes  almost  as  hard  as  rock.  With  the  improved 
navigation  of  the  river,  the  town  revived,  and  continued  to 
advance  until  it  reached  a  considerable  degree  of  commercial 
importance  for   the  interior.      The  efforts  which  had  been 


The  late  Lewis  Malone  Ayer,  already  mentioned, 
■j"  Drayton's  "  View  of  Carolina,"  p.  212. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  465 

made,  by  means  of  a  canal  a  part  of  the  way_,  to  open  the 
navigation  of  the  river  above  the  town,  and  through  the 
Yadkin,  into  North  Carolina,  had  failed  of  success,  and  the 
waggons  from  that  region  continued  to  be  the  only  means 
of  transportation. 

In  18.'20-21,  the  town  was  incorporated,  and  chiefly 
through  the  exertions  of  the  late  Governor  John  Ijide 
Wilson,  then  a  "member  of  the  Legislature,  and  deeply  in- 
terested in  this  as  the  region  of  his  nativity,  retained  its 
early  name  of  CheraAv  instead  of  Chatham,  as  some  desired, 
and  to  a  certain  extent  it  had  been  called.  The  first  line  of 
hills'^  rising  above  the  river  bottom  were  unfortunately 
cleared  and  built  upon  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  place, 
increasing  its  unhealthfulness  ever  after. 

In  1800,  the  popidation  of  Cheraw  District,  according  to 
the  returns  of  a  Federal  census  then  taken,  showed  an  in- 
crease of  nearly  one  hundred  per  cent,  over  that  of  1792. 
It  was  as  follows  : — 

Free  White  Males. 


^^^''^''-     unde;i6.     und.;26. 

26  to  45. 

Over  45. 

Marlborough, 

839          334          299 

341 

184 

Chesterfield, 

889          367          261 

371 

178 

Darlington, 

1086          440          423 
Free  White  Females. 

493 

264 

Marlborough, 

700          270          427 

328 

158 

Chesterfield, 

716          335          365 

369 

144 

Darlington, 

1001          435          454 
Entire  White  Population. 

499 

168 

Marlborough, 

3880;    Chesterfield,   3995; 

Dar- 

lington,  5263 

.      . 

13,138 

Colored. 

Marlborough, 

1393;    Chesterfield,    1148; 

Dar- 

liugtoi 

1,  2336 

Total     . 

4877 

18,015 

*  One  of  these,  many  years  since  abandoned,  has  been  long  laiown  as 
*'  Yankee  Hill."  Among  the  early  settlers,  many  came  from  the  north  for  pur- 
poses of  trade.     Few  of  these,  however,  were  very  successful  in  business. 

H  H 


466  HISTOKY  OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

The  year  1799  was  rendered  memorable  in  the  history  of 
the  country  as  the  last  in  the  life  of  Washington.  The 
event  which  plunged  a  nation  into  mourning  was  com- 
memorated by  the  citizens  of  Pedee,  the  Rev.  Evan  Pugh 
having  preached  to  a  large  concourse  of  people  at  Darling- 
ton Court  HousCj  a  discourse  appropriate  to  the  occasion."'^ 

Mr.  Pugh  himself,  after  a  long  life  of  useful  and  honor- 
able service  for  his  fellow-men  and  his  country,  was  two 
years  after  to  follow  the  way  of  him  to  whom  he  had  paid 
so  just  a  tribute.  Not  more  quiet  in  manner  and  unob- 
trusive in  character,  than  assiduous  in  the  discharge  of  duty 
and  efficient  in  action,  he  was  highly  appreciated  and 
revered,  wherever  known. t 

With  its  division  into  the  three  judicial  districts  of 
Marlborough,  Chesterfield,  and  Darlington,  the  name  of  the 
Old  Cheraw  District  was  to  pass  away,  and  the  stirring  in- 
cidents and  exciting  scenes  connected  with  its  earlier  history 
to  be  forgotten.  J     Long  Bluff  continued  to  be  the  seat  of  the 


*  The  text  of  this  discourse  was  from  2  Timothy,  ix.  7,  8,  showing  that  this 
venerable  divine  entertained  no  doubt  as  to  the  fact,  which  some  of  late  years 
have  made  a  question,  whether  Washington  was  a  Christian. 

■j"  The  following  obituary,  which  appeared  at  the  time,  paying  a  just  and 
truthful  tribute  to  the  memory  of  Mr.  Pugh,  will  fitly  give  the  closing  chapter 
of  his  history  : — 

"  George-town,  Wednesday,  Jany.  19,  180B. 

"  Died,  on  the  26th  December  last,  at  his  plantation  on  Pedee  River,  Dar- 
lington District,  in  the  7lst  year  of  his  age,  the  Rev.  Evan  Pugh,  A.M.,  pastor 
of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Mount  Pleasant.  This  venerable  divine  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  educated  in  the  principles  of  the  Quakers  ;  but  when  he 
arrived  at  the  years  of  manhood,  and  experienced  what  he  believed  to  be  a 
renovation  of  heart,  by  divine  grace,  he  became  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
Soon  after  this,  on  his  coming  to  this  State,  he  engaged  in  a  course  of  private 
studies  for  several  years;  and  having  acquired  a  good  acquaintance  with  the 
dead  languages,  and  the  most  useful  arts  and  sciences,  but  especially  with 
theology,  he  entered  on  his  ministerial  labors  in  the  year  1763,  so  that  he  had 
been  nearly  forty  years  in  the  public  character  of  a  gospel  minister,  and  the  whole 
of  the  time  resident  in  this  State.  He  was  a  man  of  sound  judgment,  of  plain, 
unaffected  manner,  and  of  a  cheerful,  entertaining  conversation.  His  character 
was  unimpeached  and  amiable,  his  benevolence  extensive,  and  his  piety  fervent. 

"  He  w  as  an  affectionate  relative,  a  good  citizen,  and  an  evangelic,  excellent 
divine.  '  Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the  upright ;  for  the  end  of  that 
man  is  peace.' " 

J  It  is  almost  incredible  how  entirely  the  knowledge  of  the  leading  events  in 
the  earlier  history  of  the  Pedee  country,  especially  those  innnedintely  preceding 
the  Revolution,  and  of  the  judicial  history  of  Cl^eraw  District,  had  passed  away. 
They  are  believed  to  have  been  entirely  unknown  to  the  older  and  more  intelli- 
gent citizens. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHEHAWS.  467 

Court  of  Equity  "  for  the  CLcravv  Equity  Circuit/'  until  the 
year  18?i4j  when  the  Court  was  ordered  to  be  hokleu  at 
Darlington  Court  House. 

A  few  years  after  the  breaking  up  of  the  Cheraw  District, 
its  most  distinguished  advocate,  William  Falconer,  was  to 
pass  aAvay  also.  Mr.  Falconer  had  acquired  a  large  and 
lucrative  practice.  He  was  the  terror,  however,  of  the 
younger  members  of  the  Bar,  as  well  as  a  formidable  adver- 
sary of  the  more  able  and  experienced.  Astute  and  learned, 
unsparing  and  sarcastic,  he  was  avcII  qualified  to  take  ad- 
vantage, as  a  special  pleader,  of  every  defect  or  informality, 
and  to  make  the  most  of  the  weak  points  in  his  opponent's 
case.'^ 

The  advantages  taken  in  this  way,  especially  of  the  younger 
lawyers,  led  to  a  general  combination  against  their  common 
enemy,  to  which  he  was  at  length  forced  to  succumb,  so  far, 
at  least,  as  to  change  his  practice  essentially  in  the  par- 
ticulars mentioned.  The  justice  of  the  charge,  so  often 
made  of  latter  days,  against  the  system  of  special  plead- 
ing, as  contracted  and  dishonorable,  may  well  be  ques- 
tioned. 

A  strict  adherence  generally  to  this  system,  would  doubt- 
less have  led  to  a  more  thorough  training  for  the  Bar,  a 
clearer  conception  of  cases,  and  with  the  narrowing  of  the 
issue  by  such  a  process,  to  a  sharpening  of  the  intellect,  and 
a  corresponding  development  of  Uie  logical  powers,  as 
well  as  a  great  saving  of  time  and  expense,  by  the  exclu- 
sion of  irrelevant  evidence  in  the  administration  of  justice. 
The  social  life  of  the  Bar  seems  to  have  had  no  charms  for 
Mr.  Falconer.  His  friends  and  intimate  companions  were 
confined  chiefly  to    the   clients  whom  he   faithfully  served. 


*  Mr.  Falconer  is  said,  by  those  of  late  years  who  remembered  him,  to  have 
been  overbearing,  as  well  as  morose.  He  could  not  brook  opposition.  Some- 
times he  had  to  give  way,  when  prudence  dictated  it.  An  anecdote  is  related 
illustrative  of  this.  On  one  occasion,  on  his  way  to  Camden,  he  met  on  the 
highway  an  up-country  waggoner,  of  unpretending  appearance,  and  a  poor  turn- 
out withal.  The  road  was  narrow,  and  the  dignified  attorney  pursuing  his 
course  in  his  sulkey,  was  not  di>posed  to  give  way.  They  met,  :ind  not  a  word 
passed.  Mr.  Falconer  then  ordered  liis  servant  to  hind  him  his  holsters, 
whereupon  the  wajgoner,  quietly  re;ichinir  back,  brought  forth  his  rifle  ;  and 
Mr.  F.,  not  willing  to  give  battle,  turned  out  of  the  road,  and  allowed  the 
stranger  to  pass  ou. 

H   II   2 


468  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

To  an  incident  which  occurred  in  his  private  history,  soon 
after  his  settlement  at  Long  BluflF,  the  moroseness  of  his  dis- 
position afterwards  has  been  in  part  attributed.  The  respect 
and  confidence  of  the  public,  however,  he  never  lost,  and  his 
talents  and  acquirements  were  brought  into  constant  requi- 
sition in  the  service  of  society  and  the  State,  until  the  close 
of  his  career.  The  chairman  for  years  of  the  Examining 
Committee  of  St.  David's  Society,  he  was  the  terror  of  the 
young,  and  not  less  held  in  awe  by  the  teachers  of  his  day. 
Such  was  the  appreciation  of  his  attainments,  that  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  first  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  South 
Carolina  College  in  1801 .  Of  his  leading  position  in  the 
Legislature,  and  the  part  he  took  in  effecting  a  change  in 
the  system  of  judicature  of  the  State,  mention  has  been 
made.  The  following  letter,  written  on  his  return  from  the 
Legislature  in  1800,  will  give  some  idea  of  his  style  and 
business  habits,  as  well  as  furnish  an  interesting  relic  of  that 
period. 

"Montrose,  25th  December,  1800. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Upon  my  arrival  at  home,  I  hasten  to  give 
you  such  information,  concerning  our  public  aflfairs,  as  I 
think  may  contribute  either  to  your  information  or  amuse- 
ment. For  this  purpose,  I  submit  the  inclosed  papers  and 
remarks.  The  democratic  ferment,  concerning  which  I  shall 
have  the  pleasure  of  remarking  personally  to  you,  having,  in 
some  degree,  after  the  elections,  subsided,  a  strict  and 
laborious  investigation  of  the  state  of  our  finances  occupied 
the  attention  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means.  We 
scrutinized  the  report  of  the  Comptroller  General  (marked 
No.  1),  and  the  reports  contained  therein  of  both  the 
Treasurers  of  the  State.  We  personally  examined  those 
officers,  fully  and  minutely  ;  and  observed  on  the  subject 
matter,  and  on  their  conduct,  respectively,  in  our  report  of 
Ways  and  Means  (marked  No.  2). 

"  Appropriate  clauses  for  carrying  into  effect  the  spirit  and 
intention  of  the  said  report  of  ways  and  means,  have  been 
inserted  in  the  Act  for  raising  supplies  for  the  year  1800. 
The  reason  of  my  mentioning  the  contingent  fund  is  to 
meet  a  variety  of  unforseen,  small  demands,  continually 
incident  to  the  executive  department,  which  might  be  more 


HISTORY    OF   THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  469 

easily  and  advantageously  discharged  with  ready  cash  than 
by  contracting,  as  heretofore,  on  credit ;  and,  tliat  the  appli- 
cation of  that  fund  might,  in  future,  undergo  legislative 
examination.  The  inclosed  papers  exhibit  a  more  correct 
statement,  and  a  more  comprehensive  view  of  our  fiscal 
arrangements  than  any  heretofore  which  I  have  seen.  And 
I  notice,  not  without  pleasure  and  becoming  pride,  how  far 
the  upper  exceeds  the  lower  division  of  the  State  in  punc- 
tuality in  tlie  collection  and  due  arrangement  of  the  taxes. 
(See  Nos.  3  and  4.) 

"  In  the  Lieutenant-Governor's  message  (No.  2)  herewith 
sent,  you  may  perceive  the  correspondence  which  jjassed 
between  him  and  the  Governor  of  North  Carolina  on  the 
subject  of  boundary.  In  consequence  of  the  said  message 
our  Legislature  resolved,  That  our  State  now,  as  heretofore, 
and  particularly  as  expressed  in  a  resolution  on  that  sub- 
ject, in  the  year  1 792,  professing  the  utmost  readiness  to 
appoint  commissioners  with  full  powers,  to  terminate,  in  a 
speedy  and  friendly  manner,  all  differences  with  her  sister 
State  so  soon  as  North  Carolina  shall  appoint  commissioners, 
with  similar  powers,  to  meet  the  commissioners  of  our 
State  for  that  purpose ;  will,  and  hereby  does,  the  more  to 
manifest  her  said  intention,  authorize  and  du'ect  the  Gover- 
nor of  this  State  to  invite  the  Government  of  North  Caro- 
lina, in  the  event  of  that  Government  still  adhering  to  her 
Bill  of  Rights,  to  meet  our  State  in  the  Court  of  the 
United  States,  where  the  claim  of  territory  may  be  consti- 
tutionally examined  and  adjusted :  and  to  inform  the 
Government  of  North  Carolina  that  this  State  has  appointed 
commissioners  to  take  care  of  her  interest,  and  to  defend 
her  claims  in  the  said  court.  But,  as  it  appeared  from  the 
documents  which  accompanied  the  said  message,  to  be  the 
intention  of  North  Carolina,  to  open  only  that  part  of  the 
line  which  is  to  the  westward  of  the  Catawba  River ;  the 
commissioners  of  our  State  are  authoi'ized  to  commence  and 
prosecute,  in  the  said  court,  such  process  as  may  effect  an 
adjustment  of  the  whole  line.  The  above  is,  as  nearly  as 
I  can  recollect,  the  substance  of  the  adopted  resolution.  It 
is  generally  believed  that  this  State  will,  along  that  part  of 
the  line  which  lies  to  the  eastward  of  the   said   river,  gain 


470  HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

territory  :  for  it  is  said  that  tlie  commissioners  who  origi- 
nally made  the  last-mentioned  part  of  the  line,  among  other 
mistakes,  were  either  ignorant  of,  or  inattentive  to,  the 
difference  between  a  statute  and  a  geographical  mile. 

"  The  taxes  this  year  are  fifty  cents  per  centum  ad  valorem 
on  land,  and  fifty  cents  per  head  on  slaves.  The  debt,  for 
which  one  quarter  dollar  was  separately  imposed  on  slaves, 
is  fully  provided  for,  and  the  act  imposing  it  is,  therefore, 
repealed.  The  next  payment  of  the  paper  medium  is,  again, 
as  usual,  transferred.  That  money  is  now  in  such  good 
credit  that  a  great  part  of  the  interest  of  last  year  was  paid 
in  specie.  This  money  ought  never  to  be  destroyed,  for  it 
may  produce  a  fund  which  may,  after  some  time,  be  suffi- 
cient to  pay,  without  the  aid  of  taxes,  the  whole  expenses 
of  Government  ! 

"  I  applied  so  intensely  to  the  business  before  the  Legis- 
lature, that,  during  its  session,  I  could  not  find  time  to 
detail  the  proceedings  thereof. 

"  I  am,  with  great  regards, 

"  My  dear  Sir, 

"Wm.  Falconer. 

"  Alexander  Craig,  Esquire.'' 

The  "  democratic  ferment,"  to  which  allusion  is  made  in 
this  letter  as  "  having  subsided,  in  some  degree,  after  the 
elections,"  was  a  subject  touching  Mr.  Falconer  sorely. 
Decided  in  their  maintenance,  and  active  in  the  propagation 
of  his  political  sentiments,  it  was  his  lot,  with  many  others, 
to  fall  with  the  Federal  party  in  South  Carolina  in  the 
final  contest  of  that  period. 

An  eminent  measure  of  success  continued  to  reward  his 
efforts  at  the  Bar.  But,  after  his  political  disappointment, 
his  habits  became  dissijoated.  In  May,  1805,  he  drove  from 
his  residence  in  Chesterfield  to  Camden,  a  distance  of  more 
than  fifty  miles,  as  counsel  in  the  case  of  Henry  Rochelle, 
indicted  for  murder,  and  returned  home  the  same  night. 
This  extraordinary  effort  brought  on  a  fever,  from  which 
he  died.^ 


*  This  day's  work  not  only  ended  in  Mr.  Falconer's  death,  but  killed  the 
mare  he  drove,  which  was  a  remarkable  animal. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   .OLD    CHERAWS.  471 

"  Tims  perished/'  as  Judge  O'Neall  justly  remarks  in 
his  interesting  sketch,"^  "  one  of  the  early  luminaries  of  the 
law  •/'  and,  as  may  with  equal  truth  be  added,  the  most 
distinguished  advocate  and  public  man,  Samuel  Wilds,t  per- 
haps, excepted,  who  had  yet  appeared  upon  the  Pedee  ! 


*  O'Neall's  "  Bench  and  Bar  of  South  Carolina,"  vol.  ii.  p.  344. 
f  Samuel  Wilds  was  now  much  younger,  and  could  hardly,  therefore,  be 
I'ompared  as  a  public  man  with  Mr.  Falconer. 


472  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEEAWS. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Closing  chapters — Pupils  of  St.  David's  afterwards  distinguished — Ezra  Pugh — 
His  brilliant  prospects  and  premature  end — Charles  Motte  Lide — His  early 
life — Preparation  for  the  Bur — Application  for  admission — Obstacle  in  the 
way — Speech  on  the  occasion — Subsequent  success — Removal  to  Georgia  as 
a  planter — His  account  of  the  undertaking,  and  locality  there — Farewell — 
Return  to  Carolina — Memorable  suit  growing  out  of  his  father's  will — Ex- 
tracts from  speeches  during  progress  of  the  case — Memorial  to  the  Legisla- 
ture for  relief — Appearance  before  a  joint  committee — Eflects  of  his  speech 
— Disappointment  and  death — His  habits  and  tastes,  and  opinions  respecting 
him. 

With  the  close  of  the  century  the  concluding  chapters  of 
this  history  must  begin.  Already  much  protracted  beyond 
the  design  with  which  the  work  was  originally  undertaken, 
it  cannot  be  pursued  further  (even  did  the  continuous 
course  of  events  on  the  Pedee  abound  in  matter  of  sufficient 
interest  to  the  present  generation  to  invite  to  the  task),  than 
the  presenting  sketches  of  a  few  of  those  who,  having  been 
pupils  in  the  Academy  of  St.  David's  prior  to  the  year  1800, 
gave  promise  of  a  brilliant  future,  but  passed  away  before 
most  of  those  now  living  appeared  upon  the  stage. 

Of  others  who  subsequently  emerged  from  the  walls  of 
that  early  school  of  learning,  and  rose  to  high  distinction, 
filling  a  large  place  during  the  greater  part  of  the  first  half 
of  the  present  century  in  the  history  of  the  State,  it  will  be 
unnecessary  to  speak.  Their  names,  for  there  were  not  a 
few  of  these  identified  with  the  Pedee,  can  never  be  forgot- 
ten. With  their  marked  traits  of  character,  the  results  of 
their  labors,  and  the  leading  incidents  of  their  lives  at  the 
Bar,  on  the  Bench,  in  Legislative  Councils,  in  professional 
pursuits,  and  in  other  branches  of  the  public  service,  we  are 
yet  familiar.  While  of  others,  who  preceded  them  in  the 
paths  of  usefulness  or  the  race  for  fame,  but  little  is  now 
generally  known.  The  first  of  these,  in  the  order  of  time, 
was  Ezra  Pugh.  He  was  the  second  son  of  the  Rev.  Evan 
Pugh,  and  born  on  Pedee  in  the  year  1771. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  473 

As  a  youth,  he  was  not  more  remarkable  for  amiability 
and  excellence  of  character,  than  for  those  intellectual  en- 
dowments which  inspired  the  hope  of  a  high  degree  of 
usefulness  and  success  in  life.  One  of  his  early  companions 
in  the  school  of  St.  David's,  who  was  afterwards  distin- 
guished for  solidity  of  understanding,  was  often  heard  to 
say,  that  when  students  together,  while  he  was  applying 
himself  closely,  young  Pugh,  either  unengaged  or  reading 
some  other  work,  would,  at  the  last  moment,  take  up  the 
text-book,  glance  over  the  subject  matter  of  the  lesson, 
and  grasp  it  as  if  by  intuition ;  and  that  with  slight  effort, 
he  would  readily  solve  the  most  difficult  mathematical 
problems. 

Dr.  Park,  who  was  his  early  instructor,  and  afterwards 
associated  during  their  college  career  with  many  of  the 
most  distinguished  men  of  the  State,  frequently  remarked 
of  Mr.  Pugh,  that  he  was,  intellectually,  the  most  remark- 
able yoimg  man  he  had  ever  known.  After  his  graduation, 
he  appears  to  have  devoted  himself  for  some  time  to  literary 
pursuits,  preparatory  to  a  profession,  then  studied  law,  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  and  settled  at  George-town.  The 
fond  hopes  of  his  friends,  however,  and  the  well-foimded 
anticipations  of  the  public,  Avere  blasted  by  his  premature 
death,  on  the  29th  of  January,  1802,  in  the  31st  year  of 
his  age. 

In  a  notice  published  at  the  time  of  this  sad  event,  it 
was  said  :  "  a  love  of  literature  induced  him,  while  young, 
to  turn  his  attention  to  the  study  of  a  profession.  This  he 
accomplished  with  but  very  little  pecuniary  aid ;  and  by  un- 
wearied diligence,  he  acquired  a  fund  of  useful  informa- 
tion, which  would  have  done  honor  to  better  circumstances. 

"  A  benevolent  disposition,  added  to  a  strong  memory  and 
sound  judgment,  qualities  rarely  united  in  the  same  person, 
caused  him  to  be  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  be- 
loved by  his  more  particular  acquaintance." 

Another,  to  whom  tradition  has  assigned  the  highest 
place  as  a  genius,  though  in  its  erratic  form,  was  Charles 
Motte  Lide,  the  third  son  of  Col.  Thomas  Lide. 

He  was  born  in  what  is  now  Marlborough  District,  during 
the   times   which  preceded  the   Revolution,  and   seems  to 


474  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

have  exliibited  in  his  character  and  subsequent  career  the 
impress  of  that  unsettled  period.  After  an  academical 
course  in  St.  David's,  he  determined  to  apply  himself  to 
the  study  of  the  law,  and  remained  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Brevard  of  Camden  eighteen  months.  Intense  application, 
with  sedentary  habits,  led  to  a  serious  decline  of  health, 
which  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  suspend  his  studies  for 
three  years.  With  returning  strength,  he  went  to  Litch- 
field, Connecticut,  and  attended  a  full  course  of  law  lectures 
under  the  celebrated  Judge  Reeve.  Returning  to  South 
Carolina,  he  entered  and  remained  nine  months  in  the  office 
of  Thomas  Parker,  Esq.,  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of 
Charleston,  with  the  intention  of  applying,  at  the  end  of 
that  time,  for  admission  to  the  Bar.  But,  an  unexpected 
obstacle  to  the  immediate  accomplishment  of  his  long 
cherished  wishes,  was  here  interposed.  For,  after  the  com- 
mencement of  his  legal  studies  (in  the  year  1796),  an  Act 
was  passed  by  the  Legislature,  requiring  of  every  citizen  of 
the  State,  who  had  not  graduated  in  some  college  or  uni- 
versity of  the  State  or  of  the  United  States,  or  in  some 
foreign  university,  to  have  served  a  regular  clerkship,  and 
read  law  in  the  office  of  a  regular  practising  attorney  of 
this  State  four  years,  as  an  indispensable  preliminary  to  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar.  With  this  exacting  requisition,  young 
Lide  could  not  comply,  without  a  more  protracted  pre- 
liminary confinement  in  some  law  office  than  he  was  now 
willing  to  undergo.  For,  deducting  the  time  of  his  sick- 
ness, he  had  studied  but  three  years  and  a  half,  of  which 
one  was  spent  out  of  the  State.  In  this  dilemma,  he 
claimed  admission  as  a  matter  of  right,  under  the  Act  of 
1785,  during  the  operation  of  which  he  had  entered  the 
office  of  Judge  Brevard,  and  which  prescribed  no  time.  In 
deference  to  this  claim,  it  was  proposed  by  John  B.  Holmes, 
Esq.,  one  of  the  gentlemen  appointed  on  the  examining 
committee,  that  Mr.  Lide  should  argue  the  point  before  the 
Court.  The  suggestion  of  a  proceeding  so  novel,  doubtless 
originated,  in  part,  in  the  desire  to  hear  this  gifted  aspirant 
for  legal  honors,  whose  peculiar  powers  were  already  known. 
He  cheerfully  acceded ;    and  in  the  course  of  a  week  pre- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  475 

pared  an  elaborate  speech,"^  wliicli  was  delivered  before  the 
Court,  composed  of  Judges  Watics,  Bay,  Johnson,  and 
Trezevant. 

The  exordium  and  other  portions  of  this  speech,  delivered 
under  such  extraordinary  circumstances,  as  to  clothe  it  with 
peculiar  interest,  were  as  follows  -. — 

"  May  it  please  the  Court : — Plutarch  informs  us,  that 
the  first  appearance  of  Demosthenes  at  the  bar,  was  in  his 
own  cause.  In  this  respect,  may  not  I,  without  vanity, 
note  the  similarity  of  fortune.  '  Kindred  objects  kindred 
thoughts  inspire/  The  same  may  be  said  of  kindred  situations. 
Oh,  that  I  could  feel  the  sympathy  of  situation  so  strongly, 
as  to  catch  but  a  faint  spark  of  that  sublime  fire  which  in- 
flamed the  breast  of  this  illustrious  prince  of  eloquence, 
and  gave  to  his  tongue  that  vehemence  of  speech,  which 
seldom  fails  to  impart  the  persuasion  of  the  soul. 

"  After  serving  a  faithful  apprenticeship  to  the  common 
law,  after  persevering  in  my  legal  pursuits  through  diffi- 
culties and  trials  the  most  severe  and  afflictive — through 
poverty,  through  sickness,  and  almost  through  death — and 
having  at  length  arrived  at  the  gates  of  the  court — at 
length  presented  myself  at  the  portals  of  the  law — does  the 
iron  finger  of  technical  construction  point  my  inadmissi- 
bility? Am  I  told  of  an  intervening  statute,  which  operates 
as  a  complete  foreclosure  on  all  the  equities  of  my  situation 
— confines  me  to  a  state  of  sub-infeudation,  without  hope  of 
ever  aspiring  to  the  dignity  of  a  tenant  in  capite — that  this 
imaginary  stumbling  block  which  lies  in  limine,  at  the  thres- 
hold of  the  Court,  must  be  removed,  before  I  am  permitted 
to  take  a  seat  with  the  venerable  fathers  aAd  worthy  sons  of 
the  Common  Law — that  this  supposed  Chinese  wall  must 
be  scaled  on  the  ladders  of  reason,  argument,  and  law, 
before  I  can  be  entitled  to  a  passport  to  the  temple  of  legal 
science  ?  This  is  literally  and  emphatically  my  situation  ; 
and  it  is  for  this  purpose,  to  remove   this  stumbling   block, 


*  For  the  manuscript  papers  of  Mr.  Lide,  embracing  liis  speeches,  with  much 
other  matter  of  interest,  all  prepared  with  much  care,  and  as  would  appear, 
originally  designed  for  publication  in  book  form,  the  author  is  indebted  to  the 
kindness  of  a  relative,  a  Mr.  Lide,  of  Alabama. 


476  HISTORY    OP    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

to  scale  this  ideal  wall,  that  I  now  appear,  for  the  first  time, 
before  the  awful  brow  of  a  Court  of  Justice.  I  crave  an 
indulgent  hearing.  I  crave  a  respect  for  my  feelings  on 
this  delicate  and  interesting  occasion;  those  feelings  of  my 
nature  which  constitute  the  acme  of  my  happiness  or 
misery. 

"  Previous  to  the  Act  of  1785,  the  admission  of  attorneys 
to  the  Bar  depended  on  a  rule  of  court.  By  that  Act, 
examination  is  the  only  preliminary  to  the  admission  of 
natives.  Under  that  statute  I  claim  admission,  and  con- 
tend, that  as  I  commenced  my  legal  studies  while  it  was 
in  full  operation  and  vigor,  a  right,  a  perfect  right  of  ad- 
mission attached  instanter,  indefeasible  by  any  subsequent 
Act  of  the  Legislature.  This  point,  I  hope  to  render 
luminous  to  the  court,  by  the  clearest  rays  of  legal  de- 
monstration. And  though  it  is  a  question  of  immediate 
personal  concern,  I  trust  I  shall  be  able  to  forget  my  own 
interest  in  it,  and  moving  out  of  myself,  found  my  argu- 
ments on  the  true  explanation  and  sound  exposition  of  the 
doctrine  of  ex  post  facto,  and  the  principles  of  analogy, 
adopted  by  the  English  courts  of  justice,  and  recognised  by 
our  own  in  a  great  variety  of  cases.  The  definition  which 
Judge  Blackstone  gives  of  an  ex  post  facto  law,  relates  only 
to  crimes,  notwithstanding  the  term  itself  is  general  and 
comprehensive,  and  ex  vi  termini  embraces  all  acts  as  well  civil 
as  criminal.  Making  of  law  ex  post  facto,  he  tells  us  is — • 
'  when  after  an  action  (indifferent  in  itself)  is  committed, 
the  Legislature  then  for  the  first  time  declares  it  to  have 
been  a  crime,  and  inflicts  a  punishment  upon  the  person 
who  has  committed  it.^  But,  immediately  after  remarking 
on  the  cruelty  and  injustice  of  such  laws,  more  cruel  and 
unjust  than  even  the  laws  of  Caligula,  he  forgets  the  par- 
ticularity of  his  definition  and  draws  his  inference  generally 
in  the  following  words :  '  all  laws,^  mark  the  change  of  his 
language,  '  all  laws  should  be  therefore  made  to  commence 
in  future  and  be  notified  before  their  commencement ;  which 
is  implied  in  the  term,  prescribed.'  It  would  be  no  difficult 
task,  Avere  it  necessary,  to  point  out  other  instances  in 
which  even  Judge  Blackstone  himself,  this  most  learned 
and  eloquent   expounder   of  the  law,  has  fallen  into   con- 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  477 

tradictions.  Let  me,  therefore,  a  stripling,  a  little  David, 
M'hcn  compared  to  this  Goliath  of  the  law,  be  on  my  guard. 
This  will  also  serve  to  show,  that  I  am  not  deterred  by 
high-sonnding  names,  from  a  thorough  investigation  of  legal 
principles.  But  to  return,  I  lay  it  down  in  as  general 
terms  as  any  rule  can  be  laid  down,  that  all  laws,  whatever 
may  be  the  subject  matter  of  them,  should  have  a  prospec- 
tive, and  not  a  retrospective  operation.  It  is  easy  to  show, 
that  in  those  few  instances  in  Avhich  there  liaA'c  been  de- 
viations from  this  sacred  principle  of  all  legitimate  legisla- 
tion, they  have  been  bottomed,  either  upon  principles  of 
policy,  or  upon  the  broader  and  more  benevolent  principles 
of  humanity.  They  have  been  temporary  and  partial  sacri- 
fices of  principle  to  principle.  Shall  I  say  that  I  have  in 
my  eye,  the  two  principal  cases  of  limitation  and  bankruptcy? 
Abstractly  and  independently  considered,  these  laws  and 
others  of  a  similar  nature  are  a  direct  violation  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  natural  justice ;  but  in  their  general  tendency, 
are  salutary,  equitable,  and  beneficial.  The  first  is  founded 
on  the  maxim,  interest  respubtica  ut  finis  sit  litium.  The 
last  is  a  noble  sacrifice  of  justice  at  the  shrine  of  humanity ; 
or  to  speak  with  more  propriety,  justice  is  of  a  composite 
nature,  and  includes  necessarily  in  itself  the  principles  of 
humanity.  They  are  a  sine  qua  non  to  each  other,  con- 
stituent parts  of  the  same  unity.  In  Great  Britain,  if  no 
period  is  fixed  for  the  commencement  of  a  statute^s  opera- 
tion, it  is  of  com'se  considered  binding  from  the  first  day  of 
that  session  in  which  it  was  enacted.''^ 

After  arguing  the  point,  he  proceeds  : — "  I  repeat  it  again 
and  again:  there  is  but  one  tense  in  legal  philology,  and 
that  is  the  future ;  there  is  but  one  vision,  and  that  is  pros- 
pective. The  eye  of  the  law,  like  that  of  the  eagle,  should 
be  fixed  on  the  sun,  not  on  the  earth — should  look  straight 
forward,  taking  no  note  of  anything  behind.  If  laws  are 
allowed  to  have  a  Janus  form — to  have  a  double  aspect, 
looking  before  and  after,  we  may  bid  a  final  and  mournful 
adieu  to  life,  liberty,  property,  justice,  and  all  those  rights 
which  mankind  have  hitherto  hold  in  the  highest  veneration, 
and  pui'chased  at  an  incalculable  expense  of  blood  and  trea- 
sure  Was  it  possible  for  my  dim  eyes  to  penetrate 


478  HISTORY   OF  THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

the  shades  of  time  and  discover  that  Act^  rising  on  the  sur- 
face of  futurity?  Is  not  prescience  an  acknowledged  and 
essential  attribute  of  the  Deity — of  that  awful  Being,  with 
whom  time  and  eternity  are  the  same,  and  all  knowledge 
merely  intuitive  ?  Present  circumstances  are  the  only  data 
of  civil,  as  well  as  moral  action.  We  must,  from  the  very 
constitution  of  our  frame,  predicate  all  our  hopes  and  all 
our  plans,  of  whatever  nature,  upon  what  is,  and  not  upon 
what  is  to  be.  This  is  the  only  firm  basis  of  action,  and 
those  who  do  not  build  upon  this  rock  will  find  themselves 
and  all  their  works,  sooner  or  later,  involved  in  one  large, 
promiscuous  ruin. 

" '  Oh  blindness  to  the  future !  kindly  given. 

That  each  may  till  the  circle  marked  by  heaven.' 

.  .  .  .  "  If  they  can  divest  the  student  of  a  right  of  ad- 
mission at  one  time,  they  can  surely  do  it  at  another  ;  if  at 
one  stage  of  his  legal  progress,  at  any  and  always.  Where, 
then,  is  his  security, — where  his  guarantee, — where  the 
rock  of  his  legal  salvation  ? 

'^  At  the  very  instant  he  fancies  himself  standing  on  terra 
firma, — behold  !  the  ground,  by  the  magic  touch  of  a  legis- 
lative wand,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  converted  into  a 
Serbonian  bog,  in  which  he  is  awfully  sunk,  swallowed  up 
and  lost  for  ever, — 

"  •  And  in  the  lowest  depth, 

A  lower  deep-still  opens  to  devour  him.'  " 

Having  argued  the  legal  point  at  length,  he  concludes  : — 
"  Standing,  as  I  conceive  I  do,  upon  an  unshaken  basis, 
and  girt  with  the  double  belt  of  principle  and  precedent,  I 
might  now  enjoy  the  calm  serenity  of  a  mind  confident  of 
success,  were  I  not  too  sensible  that  all  human  confidence 
is  vain.  Let  me  therefore  earnestly  and  pathetically  entreat 
the  Court,  to  give  this  question  the  most  mature  considera- 
tion before  they  make  a  decision,  which,  if  in  the  negative, 
involves  consequences  to  me  of  the  most  serious  import, 
and  will  give  an  entirely  new  modification  to  my  situation, 
hopes,  and  future  prospects.^^ 

This  efibrt  of  Mr.  Lide  was  unavailing.  For,  on  the 
day  after  the  delivery  of  the  speech^  Judge  Waties,  calling 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEUAWS.  479 

him  up  to  the  bench,  politely  complimented  hira,  and  pri- 
vately delivering  the  opinion  of  the  court,  expressed  regret 
that  they  could  not  comply  with  the  prayer  of  his  petition. 
He  observed,  that  some  of  the  judges  refused  to  pay  any 
attention  to  the  Act  of  1796, — Judge  Burke,  in  particular, 
having  publicly  declared,  that  he  would  not  be  bound  by 
that  Act.  Accordingly,  after  the  passing  of  that  statute, 
admissions  had  been  made  to  the  Bar  of  students  who  could 
not  comply  with  its  requisitions  ;  several  having  been  ad- 
mitted but  a  short  time  previous  to  the  application  of  Mr. 
Lide.  Judge  Waties  declared,  that,  as  to  himself,  he  revolted 
at  the  idea  of  disregarding  a  solemn  act  of  the  Legislature. 
Mr.  Lide  then  entreated  the  judge  to  bend  the  law  so  as 
to  accommodate  it  to  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  his  case, 
urging  that  the  long  suspension  of  his  legal  studies  by  sick- 
ness, was  the  only  thing  which  brought  him  under  its 
operation ;  that  this  was  the  visitation  of  Providence,  and 
the  maxim  would  apply,  Actus  Dei  nemini  facit  injuriam. 

"  Sir,^''  said  Judge  Waties,  in  reply,  with  some  degree 
of  resentment,  "  we  do  not  grant  favors.''''  "  Sir,"'  replied 
Mr.  Lide,  "  I  am  better  acquainted  with  the  office  and  duty 
of  a  judge-,  than  to  ask  them.  All  I  request  is,  that  the 
Court  will  bend,  not  break  the  law  :  the  expression  is  legal 
and  proper,  and  frequently  used  by  the  judges  of  Eng- 
land." 

"  At  this  stage  of  the  conversation/'  continues  Mr.  Lide 
in  his  narrative,  "  Judge  Bay,  with  that  natural  goodness 
and  politeness  which  sometimes  outstrip  his  understanding, 
expressed  to  me  his  regret  that  I  had  not  made  my  appli- 
cation for  admission  sooner.  Upon  which,  I  observed  that 
the  law  and  the  circumstances  were  the  same  ;  that  I  knew 
there  was  a  tide  in  human  affairs,  but  had  no  conception 
that  it  extended  to  and  influenced  courts  of  justice.  This 
was  decisive,  and  admitted  of  no  reply."  Perceiving  the 
inflexible  determination  of  the  Court,  Mr.  Lide  retired,  both 
mortified  and  disappointed ;  but  feeling,  as  he  said,  that  it 
was  one  of  the  proudest  days  of  his  life.  He  was  not  only 
complimented  by  the  Judge,  but  immediately  after  the 
delivery  of  the  speech,  John  Julius  Pringle,  one  of  the  most 
distinguished    advocates  of   Charleston,   who  was    present 


480  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

and  attentive  tlirougliout,  approaclied  the  youthful  pleader, 
and  entering  into  conversation^  very  familiarly  and  oblig- 
ingly asked  him  several  questions  respecting  his  future 
intentions  and  prospects,  adding,  that  in  consequence  of 
some  expressions  used  in  the  exordium  of  the  speech,  the 
gentlemen  of  the  Bar  stood  ready  to  furnish  him  with  any 
pecuniary  means  which  might  be  needed  to  prosecute  his 
legal  studies,  and  had  requested  him  (Mr.  Pringle)  to  com- 
municate their  disposition  in  this  respect,  but  that  he  had 
informed  them  there  was  no  occasion  for  it,  as  Mr.  Lide^s 
means  were  fully  sufficient.  After  quitting  the  office  of 
Mr.  Parker  in  the  spring  of  1800,  Mr.  Lide  went  to 
Columbia  as  a  student,  and  soon  after,  on  his  own  affidavit, 
covering  the  deficiency  as  to  time,  was  admitted  to  the  Bar 
during  the  same  year.  He  had  intended  settling  in  Colum- 
bia as  a  lawyer,  but  during  the  delay  caused  by  the  unex- 
pected obstacle  thrown  in  his  way,  another  gentleman  came 
in  and  established  himself  there  in  full  practice,  marring 
the  prospect,  as  Mr.  Lide  feared,  for  his  own  early  success. 
He,  therefore,  unfortunately  determined,  after  remaining  at 
the  Bar  twelve  months,  to  relinquish  the  pursuit,  and  estab- 
lished himself  as  a  planter  on  Crooked  River,  Camden 
County,  Georgia.  This,  as  he  says,  "  was  an  enterprise  of 
the  most  arduous,  romantic,  and  alpine  nature.  But  in- 
dustry and  perseverance  conquered  every  difficulty.  I 
called  the  tract  of  laud  which  I  purchased  of  Mr.  James 
Seagrove,  '  the  Asylum."  Shortly  after  my  arrival  there, 
in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  I  thus  correctly  depicted  the  exist- 
ing scenery:  '  On  my  first  debarkation  at  this  place  I 
found  it  completely  under  the  dominion  of  nature.  The 
hand  of  culture  had  not  presumed  to  intrench  on  her  rights, 
nor  the  axe  to  violate  the  long  and  sacred  silence  of  the 
forest.  Here  the  owl  has  long  maintained  his  ancient  and 
solitary  reign,  and  from  his  nightly  court  still  issues  dread- 
ful proclamations  to  warn  me  against  encroachments  on  his 
territory.  I  pitched  my  tent  of  moss  under  a  large  white 
oak,  which  afforded  me  a  kind  and  protective  shelter  till  a  few 
days  ago,  when  I  decamped  under  my  present  habitation. 
In  gratitude  I  have  suffered  him  to  retain  his  ancient  and 
venerable  seat,  though  his  neighbours  have  long  since  fallen 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  481 

around  him.      When  he  does  fall,  he  shall  fall  with  all  tlie 
leafy  honors  of  the  forest  at  his-  side/' 

''  After  transforming  a  wild  wood  into  a  cultivated  field, 
in  the  fall  of  1803,"  he  afterwards  wrote,  having  remained 
there  only  eighteen  months,  "  I  disposed  of  land,  negroes, 
and  erops  to  Messrs.  Wood  and  Drysdale,  two  gentlemen 
from  the  Bahama  Islands.  When  the  sale  was  completed 
my  spirits  underwent  a  remarkable  and  visible  depression ; 
and  in  this  melancholy  mood  I  composed  the  following 
valedictory^  which  breathes  something  of  the  tenderness  of 
Ossiau. 

"  Farewell,  sweet  Asylum,  which  received  me  into  your 
friendly  bosom  at  a  time  when  anxiety  and  despondency 
corroded  my  health,  and  poverty  gi'inned  upon  my  heels. 
Farewell,  ye  lovely  flowers,  ye  golden  blossoms,^  which  daily 
expand  your  little  bosoms  to  kiss  the  mid-day  sunbeam. 
Farewell,  thou  surrounding  forest,  that  hast  so  long  darkened 
my  solitude,  and  cast  a  browner  horror  on  my  cares.  How 
often  have  you  listened  with  anxious  dread  to  the  cry  of  my 
axes  and  the  crash  of  your  cotemporary  trees  !  You,  too, 
must  soon  yield  to  the  persevering  vigor  of  the  axe.  You, 
too,  must  soon  lay  your  tall  heads  low  and  moulder  into 
dust !  And  thou,  majestic  and  venerable  White  Oak,  under 
whose  protective  wing,  on  the  broad  platform  of  nature,  I 
have  so  often  reposed,  adieu ! 

"  It  is  true  that  I  have  stript  you  partially  of  your 
leafy  honors  ;t  but  it  was  done  from  a  benevolent  motive, 
to  extend  your  branches,  and  to"  clad  you  with  more  luxu- 
riant foliage.  Farewell,  thou  meandering  stream,  on  M'hose 
silent,  sacred  banks  I  have  so  long  lived.  How  often  have 
I  floated  on  the  full  swell  of  your  rapid,  boiling  tide ! 
Once  did  I  sleep  upon  your  bosom.  No  longer  will  you 
contribute  to  my  health,  convenience,  or  repose.  No  longer 
will  you  pass  in  sympathetic  silence  the  door  of  my  moss- 
stuflfed  hut.  And  thou,  good  genius  of  the  hommock  who, 
after  witnessing  all  my  cares,  and  all  my  toils,  hast  at 
length  smiled  upon  my  labors  and  crowned  them  with  suc- 
cess, farewell,  a  long  farewell  ! 


*  "  Cotton  blossoms."  f  "  I  had  it  topped." 

I  I 


482  HISTOEY    OF    THE    OLD    CHEEAWS. 

"  Think  not  that  I  am  ungrateful  for  your  favors.  No, 
far  be  it  from  me.  Necessity  alone  has  compelled  me  to 
renounce  my  allegiance  to  you,  to  withdraw  fi'om  your  soli- 
tary domain,  and  to  relinquish  the  cultivation  of  your 
favorite  plant.  Be  still  propitious.  Let  your  smiles 
accompany  me  while  I  go  to  revisit  friends  who  have  long 
known  and  loved  me,  and  scenes  which  have  been  familiar 
to  my  earliest  youth  \" 

The  profession  of  the  law  not  ajjpearing  to  Mr.  Lide,  as 
he  says,  '^  to  promise  a  remuneration  by  any  means  ade- 
quate to  the  great  sacrifices  of  time,  of  property,  and  above 
all,  of  health,  that  he  had  made  in  order  to  qualify  himself 
for  it,'^  he  resolved  to  abandon  it.  "  At  that  time,^^  he 
remarks,  "  the  long  staple  or  black-seed  cotton  was  held  in 
high  estimation,  and  generally  regarded  as  the  shortest  and 
surest  road  to  wealth.  The  South  of  Georgia  was  consi- 
dered by  Col.  Hampton  and  myself  the  finest  theatre  of 
success.'^  Col.  Hampton  furnished  him  with  letters,  advice, 
&c.  Accordingly,  in  the  early  part  of  the  following  year, 
1802,  he  went  to  Virginia  to  purchase  negroes,  and  soon 
after  removed  to  Georgia.  But  having  invested  a  part  of 
his  funds  in  another  undertaking,  it  led  to  financial  embar- 
rassment, and  the  breaking  up  of  the  cotton  enterprise  just 
as  it  had  progressed  to  a  point  to  become  remunerative. 

In  the  fall  of  1803  he  returned  to  Carolina,  and  resumed 
the  practice  of  the  law,  but  irregularly  and  without  that 
spii'it  and  determination  which  alone  could  ensure  success. 
The  memorable  and  protracted  suit,  growing  out  of  the  will 
of  his  father.  Col.  Thomas  Lide,  from  its  beginning  in  1806, 
appears  to  have  absorbed  all  his  energies  and  called  forth  all 
his  powers. 

Col.  Lide  had  contracted  a  third  marriage  with  Mrs. 
Mehitabel  Irby.  By  a  will,  executed  during  his  last  illness, 
provision  was  made  for  an  annuity  to  his  widow.  It  was 
alleged  that  this  was  done  on  the  ground  there  would  be  a 
posthumous  heir,  which  proved  not  to  be  the  case ;  and 
that  false  representations  had  been  made,  and  undue  in- 
fluence brought  to  bear  upon  the  testator  when  in  a  very 
weak  state  of  mind,  to  that  end.  The  representatives  of 
Mrs.  Lide  afterward  claimed  the  annuity,  with  interest,  for 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  483 

a  term  of  years.  The  claim  was  resisted  by  the  lieirs  of" 
Coh  Lide,  chiefly  on  the  grounds  mentioned,  and  hence  the 
suit.  Charles  ]\Iotte  Lide  was,  therefore,  personally  and 
deeply  interested  in  the  result.  During  the  progress  of  the 
case  he  delivered  the  most  elaborate  speeches,  fidl  of  legal 
learning  and  abounding  in  classical  lore,  rising  at  times  to 
a  degree  of  pathos,  which,  with  his  peculiar  manner  and 
brilliant  powers,  made  a  deep  and  lasting  impression  on 
those  who  heard  him.  The  extracts  already  given  from 
his  pen,  with  those  of  the  speeches  which  are  to  follow,  will 
convey  some  idea,  though  of  course  imperfectly,  of  what  he 
was  at  the  Bar.  Contemporaneous  testimony,  as  well  as 
tradition,  assign  him  a  very  high  place  in  point  of  oratorical 
power,  not  only  before  the  juries  of  the  country,  but  the 
more  enlightened  audiences  of  the  day.  As  often  the  case 
with  those  who  have  been  highly  gifted,  the  most  brilliant 
flashes  of  his  wit  and  eloquence  were  doubtless  called  forth 
under  the  stimulus  of  the  occasion^  and  hence  not  pre- 
served. 

In  June  term^  1814,  he  pronounced  before  Judge  Thomp- 
son, and  a  deeply  interested  and  profoundly  attentive 
audience,  a  speech,  of  which  the  following  Avas  the  exor- 
dium : — 

"  May  it  please  your  Honor  :  after  revolving  like  a  planet, 
and  like  this  case,  thi'ough  all  the  signs  of  the  zodiac,  after 
experiencing  all  the  changes  of  changeful  fortune,  after 
passing  through  a  vast  variety  of  untried  being  and  of  woe, 
I  am  at  length,  through  the  capricious  revolution  of  time 
and  of  accident,  reluctantly  driven  back  to  the  '  dull  debate, 
the  noisy  bar,^  and  placed  in  this  forum  in  order  to  raise 
my  hand  and  voice  in  a  cause,  in  which  I  would  cheerfully 
expend  the  last  cent  of  my  property,  and  heartily  shed  the 
last  drop  of  my  blood. 

"  Fortunate,  indeed,  is  the  coincidence,  and  singularly 
happy  is  the  man,  though  the  necessity  in  this  particular 
case  is  ever  and  deeply  to  be  regretted,  in  whose  favor  duty 
and  inclination  are  thus  made,  proAidentially,  to  unite  and 
co-operate.  In  this  arrangement  and  concurrence  I  see 
distinctly  the  hand  of  Providence.  Cui  bono,  for  what  good 
end^  or   for  what  wise  purpose,   have  I  been  protected  and 

I  I  2 


484  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

preserved  through  unparalleled  difficulties,  through  unprece- 
dented afflictions,  misfortunes  and  trials  but  for  this  high 
argument,  this  uuattempted  theme.      Hely  upon  it, 

"  '  There  is  a  Providence  that  shapes  our  ends. 
Rough  hew  them  as  we  will.' 

"  To  correct  injustice  is  at  all  times  and  on  all  occasions 
to  discharge  a  pleasing,  a  beneficent,  and  even  a  god-like 
office.  In  this  instance  it  is  also  to  perform  a  moral  and  a 
political  duty.  It  is  a  duty  I  owe  to  myself,  it  is  a  duty  I 
owe  to  the  other  devisees  and  co-defendants,  it  is  a  duty  I 
owe  to  my  country.  But  a  stronger,  a  higher,  a  more 
sacred  motive  animates  me.  Filial  piety  demands  it  of  me. 
Methinks  I  see  the  shade  of  my  father  looking  down  with 
indignation  on  the  ungrateful  ruin  and  unmerited  devasta- 
tion of  his  family,  frowning  upon  me  for  unavoidable  inat- 
tention and  delay,  impatiently  beckoning,  and  imperatively 
demanding  of  me  to  make  this  exertion,  in  order,  to  use  the 
forcible  language  of  Judge  Buller,  to  '  blot  out  the  blot' 
which  has  been  so  unworthily  affixed  by  the  decree  now  to 
be  reviewed,  to  his  memory  and  understanding ;  and  as  far 
as  possible  to  mitigate  and  to  correct  the  calamitous  effects 
which  it  has  so  unjustly  wrought  and  accomplished.'' 

"  On  this  solemn  occasion,"  he  subsequently  exclaimed, 
''  I  act  a  far  more  interesting  and  important,  though  less 
conspicuous  part,  than  the  eloquent  Symmachus  when  he 
pled  before  the  throne  of  the  Emperor  Valentinian  for  the 
Gods  of  Rome.  He  advocated  the  cause  and  reign  of  poly- 
theism ;  /  advocate  the  cause  and  dominion  of  justice  and 
of  law.  He  prayed  and  entreated  for  the  restoration  of  the 
altar  of  victory  ;  /  supplicate  for  the  restoration,  or  rather, 
recognition  of  the  remedies  by  rehearing  or  bill  of  review. 
He  plead  for  the  continuance  and  preservation  of  an  idle 
superstition,  already  undermined  by  the  then  new-light  of 
Christianity ;  I  plead  for  the  conservation  and  perpetuation 
of  our  whole  system  of  equity.  It  is  not,  then,  my  cause 
alone  which  I  this  day  plead;  it  is  the  cause  of  my  family, 
it  is  the  cause  of  justice,  it  is  the  cause  of  the  constitution 
and  laws,  it  is  the  cause  of  the  entire  mass  of  the  commu- 
nity. *  Whatever,  therefore,'  in  the  words  of  a  memorable 
and  distinguished  orator^  '  can  best  encourage  and  animate 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  485 

to  diligence  and  to  energy  ;  Avhatever  is  most  powerful  and 
influencing  upon  a  mind  not  callous  to  every  sentiment  of 
gratitude  and  lionor,  demand  at  this  moment  the  exercise 
of  every  function  and  faculty  that  I  am  master  of/  " 

The  connscl  for  the  defendants  having  given  up  all 
hope  of  success  in  consequence  of  an  adverse  decision 
previously  made,  and  virtually  abandoned  the  cause,  he 
proceeds  to  comment  upon  their  course :  "  under  this 
chilling  impression,  after  the  second  verdict  in  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas,  and  the  consequent  decree  in  Equity, 
both  of  which  were  adverse,  their  counsel  imprudently 
and  suicidally  abandoned  the  cause  in  despair.  Never, 
surely,  was  there  less  room  for  the  indulgence  of  this 
last  freezing  sentiment  of  the  human  heart.  On  the  con- 
trary, their  motto  or  principle  of  inspiration  should  have 
been  that  which  encircles  the  arms  of  the  State,  Dum  spiro 
spero.  jNIost  unfortunately,  however,  the  breasts  of  the 
defendants'  counsel  did  not  glow  with  this  noble,  manly, 
soul-inspiring,  magnanimous,  and  Spartan-like  sentiment. 
Just  in  this  awkward,  timorous,  and  short-hand  way,  was 
the  best  and  most  hopeful  cause  in  the  world  cruelly,  un- 
naturally, completely,  and  prematurely  butchered  and  sacri- 
ficed by  those  who  were  entrusted  with  its  defence,  and  who 
should  have  cherished  and  sustained  its  precious  being  to 
the  last  period  of  its  legal  existence.  To  the  bright  morn- 
ing of  its  commencement,  there  unexpectedly  succeeded  a 
long  and  dreary  night  of  terrible  gloom,  of  clouds  and 
thick  darkness. 

"  Had  the  counsel  for  the  defendants,  instead  of  being 
struck  with  dismay,  have  again  carried  the  case  up,  in  their 
turn,  to  the  Constitutional  Court,  as  in  this  mode  of  pro- 
cedure they  ought  to  have  done,  the  good  nature,  if  not 
the  good  sense  of  the  Court,  there  being  verdict  against 
verdict,  and  the  scales  of  justice,  abstractedly  considered, 
hanging  in  equipoise,  would,  upon  mere  motion  and  as  a 
matter  entirely  of  course,  have  granted  a  second  new  trial. 
In  fact,  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose,  that  they  would  have 
exulted  in  the  opportunity  of  reviewing  their  former  decision. 

"  But,  instead  of  this  having  been  done,  the  cause  was,  as 
just  stated,  horribly  smothered  and  strangled  to  death  in  its 


486  HISTORY  OF  THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

cradle.  During  the  whole  of  these  latter  proceedings  I  was 
at  a  distance  from  the  scene  of  decision,  and  in  absolute 
ignorance  of  them.  For,  after  the  first  verdict,  I  had  sup- 
posed on  good  authority  that  the  cause  was  at  an  end. 
Nor  was  I  awakened  from  this  state  of  tranquil  ignorance 
and  agreeable  delusion  until  the  execution  against  myself 
arrived  at  Laurensville,  near  to  which  place  I  at  that  time 
resided,  and  announced  to  me  the  mournful  result  of  the 
contest.  I  immediately  determined  on  resistance ;  but 
owing  to  pecuniary  embarrassments,  was  compelled  to  post- 
pone it  to  a  more  convenient  time.  In  confirmation  of  this 
assertion  I  shall  make  an  extract  from  a  letter,  a  copy  of 
which  I  preserved,  addressed,  very  shortly  after  the  arrival 
of  the  execution,  to  Duncan  M'Rae,  Esq.,  the  administrator, 
cum  testamento  annexo,  of  the  estate  of  the  devisor,  in  which 
I  distinctly  and  strongly  announced  this  resolution  and  in- 
tention. It  is  in  these  words  :  '  This  business,^  alluding 
to  this  suit,  '  shall  not  stop  here  ;  these  waters  must  be 
troubled;  and,  if  necessary,  it  shall  be  the  occupation  of  the 
remaining  part  of  my  life,  to  keep  them  in  constant  and 
boihng  agitation.^  .  .  .  Ha\dng  finished  the  woeful, 
Romeo  and  Juliet  tale  of  this  short-lived  and  luckless  case, 
thus  prematurely  terminated,  I  will  now  attempt  to  give,  what 
should  have  been,  according  to  my  ideas,  its  actual  history. 
This  will  be  best  accomplished  by*a  criticism  on  the  pro- 
ceedings both  at  law  and  in  equity,  which  have  just  been 
briefly  narrated. 

"  Disdaining  then  all  idle  ceremony  and  the  vain  imperti- 
nence of  forms,  let  us  utter  our  sentiments  with  freedom 
but  not  without  respect. •*' 

He  then  proceeds  to  a  most  detailed,  elaborate,  and  able 
examination  of  the  facts  of  the  case  from  the  beginning, 
with  the  principles  of  law  and  equity  involved,  citing  with 
learned  comments,  a  vast  array  of  authorities,  occasionally 
digressing,  as  in  the  following  instance.  Referring  to 
Blackstone,  he  adds  : — "  Having  frequently  had  occasion  to 
cite  this  great  authority,  I  can  no  longer  refrain  from  giving 
expression  to  those  strong  and  ardent  feelings  of  gratitude, 
which  are  so  justly  and  eminently  due,  not  only  from  my- 
self,  but    from    the    whole    legal   corps,   to    this    illustrious 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  487 

autlior,  for  the  immense  advantages  derived,  and  to  be  de- 
rived, '  to  the  last  syllal)le  of  recorded  time/  from  his  toil- 
some labors  and  erudite  lucvd)rations.  As  Mr.  Cumberland 
observes  of  Dr.  Johnson,  Etiam  mutuas  loquitur,  I  take  no 
notice  of  the  labors  or  attempts  of  Sir  Matthew  Hale, 
though  they  are  not  without  their  value  or  utility.  The 
incomparable  Blackstoue  first  educed  order  out  of  chaos, 
and  elevated  the  study  of  law  to  the  rank  and  dignity  of  a 
science.  His  successors,  and  they  are  many,  and  great, 
and  learned,  are  only  treading  in  his  footsteps. 

"  He  first,  a  poor  orphan  boy — let  not  the  great  and 
wealthy  plume  themselves  too  much ;  this  orphan  boy,  I 
say,  first  erected  this  vast,  magnificent  pile,  and  they,  his 
successors,  are  merely  adding  the  superficial  ornaments. 

"  '  With  nice  distinctions  glossing  o'er  the  text. 
Obscure  in  meaning,  and  with  words  perplext ; 
Witli  subtleties  on  subtleties  refin'd, 
Meant  to  divide  and  subdivide  the  mind  ; 
Keeping  the  frowardness  of  youth  in  awe. 
The  scowling  Blackstone  bears  the  train  of  law.' " 

He  finally  concludes  in  these  words  : — 

" '  There  is,^  says  a  feeling  orator,  '  a  principle  of  re- 
sistance in  mankind,  which  will  not  brook  such  injuries, 
and  a  good  cause  and  a  good  heart,  will  animate  men  to 
struggle  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  their  wrongs,  and  the 
grossuess  of  their  oppressors.  On  this  principle,  like 
Hamlet,  I  have  pried  with  an  eager,  inquisitive,  insati- 
able, and  unsatisfied  curiosity,  into  the  most  obscure,  hidden, 
and  minute  circumstances  of  this  cause 

"  On  this  principle,  I  have  attempted  faintly  to  imitate 
the  sublime  conduct,  the  exalted  and  devotional  patriotism 
of  Curtius,  and  have  leaped  into,  in  order  to  close  for  ever, 
this  dreadful,  yawning  gulf  to  the  best  hopes,  interests, 
and  prospects  of  myself  and  family.  On  this  principle,  I 
have  struggled,  and  on  this  principle,  will  I  continue  to 
struggle,  till  the  last,  expiring,  convulsive  gasp  of  this 
singularly  unfortunate  cause.  I  will  exhaust,  before  I  have 
done,  all  the  resources  of  which  I  am  possessed,  of  informa- 
tion and  learning,  of  genius  and  judgment,  of  invention  and 
argument.  If  possible,  I  will,  as  far  as  relates  to  this 
cause,  exhaust  even  the  legal  and  equitable   codes.      I  will 


488  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

exert  every  nerve,  strain  every  muscle,  ronse  and  display 
every  power  and  every  principle  of  energy  which  exist  in 
me,  whether  corporeal  or  mental. 

"  In  this  case,  1  am  a  torrent  shooting  down  the  sub- 
lime slope  of  the  Andes,  a  mighty  river  overwhelming  its 
grand  and  elevated  banks,  and  pouring  its  accumulated 
flood  into  the  capacious  and  expansive  bosom  of  the  ocean. 
To  arrest  such  a  torrent,  to  oppose  such  a  river,  would  be 
almost  as  idle  and  vain,  as  to  stop  the  sun  in  mid-career,  or 
nature  in  her  rapid  and  majestic  course.  To  fall  by  such 
proceedings  and  decisions  as  I  have  exhibited  to  your  honor, 
would  indeed  be  to  be  '  brained  by  a  lady's  fan,'  and  to 
perish  in  the  style  of  the  mock-heroic.  Such  a  contempti- 
ble denouement  of  this  drama,  would  completely  take 
away  all  dignity  from  distress,  would  be  not  less  ridiculous 
than  calamitous.  To  avoid  this  fate,  to  prevent  such  a 
'  heel  and  catastrophe'  to  this  wretched  cause,  are  the  true 
objects  of  that  unwearied  industry,  of  that  patient  toil,  of 
that  midnight  research,  to  which  I  have  so  long  and 
cheerfully  submitted,  in  its  investigation  and  development. 
But,  if  after  all  shall  have  been  said  and  done,  I  cannot 
ultimately  command,  it  must,  at  least,  be  universally  ad- 
mitted, that  I  shall  have  deserved  the  most  rare,  the  most 
signal,  and  the  most  glorious  success." 

This  speech,  of  which  only  a  few  extracts  have  been  given, 
must  have  occupied  the  greater  part  of  the  day  in  its  de- 
livery. Major  Blanding,  afterwards  so  distinguished  at  the 
Bar,  was  the  opposing  counsel.  The  decision  of  the  Judge 
was  adverse,  ordering  and  decreeing  that  the  application  for 
a  rehearing  be  rejected.  In  the  delivery  of  the  opinion, 
however,  the  Judge  admitted  "  that  a  bill  of  review  would 
lie,  provided  a  case  was  made  out,  competent  to  warrant  and 
sustain  it."  This  Mr.  Lide  considered  a  "  great  point 
gained,"  in  the  final  prosecution  of  the  cause.  "  It  gave 
me,'^  as  he  said,  "what  Archimedes  wanted  for  his  instru- 
ments, in  order  to  move  the  earth — a  place  on  which  to 
plant  my  legal  and  argumentative  machines  before  the  Court 
of  Appeals  in  Equity." 

To  this  last  appeal  to  the  courts  of  the  country,  he  now 
applied  himself  with  unwearied  and  extraordinary  assiduity^ 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  489 

knowing  that  if  against  liim,  tlie  decision  would  be  final. 
The  result  of  his  preparatory  labors  in  the  effort  made^  was 
an  enduring  monument  to  his  patient  research,  his  sleepless 
application,  his  inventive  power,  and  legal  erudition. 

The  cause  was  argued  before  the  Appeal  Court  in  Equity, 
at  Columbia,  on  the  25th  and  26th  of  November,  1814. 
'•'  It  is  with  a  mixed  feeling  of  pride  and  gratitude,^'  Mr. 
Lide  remarks,  "  that  the  Equity  Chamber  was  crowded  and 
adorned  with  the  wisdom  and  gravity  of  age,  as  well  as  with 
the  sprightly  intelligence  and  laudable  curiosity  of  youth." 

The   argument    was   introduced    by    a    few  observations, 

which  he  deemed  appropriate,  as  follows  : — " '  We 

hold  it,'  says  Junius,  addressing  himself  to  Dr.  Blackstone, 
'  that  the  cause  of  an  injured  individual,"  and  I  may  pre- 
sume to  add,  much  more  that  of  an  almost  ruined  family, 
'  is  interesting  to  the  public'  I  recall  to  the  recollection 
of  your  Honors  this  just,  wise,  politic,  and  truly  patriotic 
sentiment,  because  I  am  extremely  anxious  to  secure  to 
myself  the  attention  and  respect  of  the  Court.  For  on  this 
occasion  I  am  sadly  serious.  Pardon  then,  in  the  course  of 
this  great  struggle,  something  to  my  feelings.  My  old 
literary  friend,  Burke,  has  taught  me,  that  such  is  the  com- 
plexity of  human  affairs,  that  men  sometimes  unavoidably 
find  themselves  in  strange  situations  ;  '  but  the  Judges,"  says 
he,  '  should  always  be  the  same."  And  Curran  has  also  in- 
formed me,  '  that  had  it  not  have  been  for  the  boldness  of 
Nathan's  parable,  his  candor  might  have  cost  him  his  head.' 
But  truth  speaks  with  such  a  lofty  warning  voice,  in  accents 
so  strong  and  so  awe-inspiring,  that  she  astounds  the  callous 
front  of  guilt,  disarms  the  hand  of  power,  and  places  con- 
science at  pleasure,  and  in  submissive  acquiescence,  under 
the  mighty  sway  of  her  awful  sceptre. 

"  Besides,  may  it  please  your  Honors,  I  am  about  to  con- 
tend for  all  which  can  interest  me,  Avhether  considered  as  an 
isolated  being,  or  as  a  member  of  a  private  family,  or,  of 
that  greater  family  of  my  fellow-citizens,  the  community. 

"  And  therefore,  I  shall  follow  an  example,  which  on  no 
other  occasion  would  I  even  think  of  following — the  example 
of  Richard  the  Third,  and  mount  '  black  Surrey  for  the  field 
to-day." 


490  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

"  I  took  the  liberty  to  allude  to  my  family.  One  member 
of  that  small  family  has  fallen,  partly,  I  think,  under  the 
corroding  effects  of  this  decree,  and  is  now  sleeping  with 
his  fathers.  Peace  be  to  his  ashes,  and  eternal  rest  to  his 
soul.  Another  member  of  that  unfortunate  family  still 
survives,  on  whom  Providence,  in  his  mysterious  and  in- 
scrutable dispensations,  for  wise  purposes,  no  doubt,  hath 
grievously  inflicted  his  chastening  rod.  It  is  on  his  account 
that  I  am  chiefly  solicitous.  For  myself,  I  am  under  no 
apprehensions.  Tliat  Being  who  feeds  the  raven,  yea,  even 
the  young  raven,  will  take  care  of  me.  For  we  are  assured 
that  a  sparrow  falls  not  to  the  ground,  unnoticed  by  his 
vigilant  and  parental  eye. 

" '  Oh,  for  a  muse  of  fire. 
To  ascend  the  hrightcst  heaven  of  invention. 
An  empire  for  a  stage,  heroes  to  act. 
And  princes  to  behold,  the  swelling  scene.' 

"  May  it  please  your  Honors : 

"  From  the  great  importance  and  extreme  length  of  this 
case,  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  follow  the  rules  of  the 
dramatic  art,  and  to  distribute  into  three  acts  this  vast  and 
tragic  drama.  Already,  twice  in  valiant  conflict  have  I  en- 
countered the  foe.  Once,  at  Chambers,  did  I  startle  and 
touch  him  with  the  point  of  IthurieFs  spear.  The  argument 
in  the  Circuit  Court  of  Equity,  at  Cheraw,  appalled  the  ad- 
verse counsel  and   his client.      This  worthy  duumvirate 

looked  like  wretches,  smitten  and  blasted  by  the  lightning 
of  heaven.  They  trembled  !  good  God,  how  they  trembled  ! 
It  was  tlie  couching  of  the  Norman  lance,  before  the  de- 
generate Greeks,  of  the  Roman-Eastern  empire.  Again  I 
enter  the  lists,  with  my  loins  girt  about,  and  my  lamj) 
trimmed  and  burning — emaciated,  it  is  true,  but  not  ex- 
hausted. No,  may  it  please  your  Honors,  my  genius  for 
legal  warfare  is  not  yet  exhausted,  nor  will  it  be,  nor  can  it 
be,  so  long  as  a  single  patch,  or  thread,  or  particle  is  left  of 
this  Sybilline  record — so  long  as  a  single  question  out  of  it 
starts  up,  dares  to  raise  its  hydra  head,  to  be  cut  off  by  the 
giant  arm  of  law  and  logic.  This  AvcU-fought  field  is  not 
yet  abandoned  with  dismay  and  despair,  the  hostile  armor  of 
attack  and  defence  is  not  yet  broken  to  pieces  and  cast  away 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  491 

by  cither  conflicting  party,  nor  will  it  be  until  tliis  honorable 
Court  shall  interpose,  and  by  its  decision  put  a  final  period 
to  the  contest.  Twice,  I  repeat,  have  I  already,  at  great 
length,  argued  this  cause,  and  this  is  my  third,  formal, 
and  I  trust  last  effort.  Under  this  cheering  hope,  I  do 
therefore  enter  this  Court,  with  the  heart-felt  joy  of  a  sailor, 
'  long  tossed  at  sea  and  all  his  viands  spent,^  on  the  dis- 
covery of  land,  of  terra  finna,  and  with  the  buoyant  prospect 
of  a  speedy  termination  to  his  rough  and  toilsome  voyage. 
Incessantly  agitated,  and  wearied  in  mind  and  in  body,  it 
may  readily  be  supposed  and  believed  that  I  enter  this 
august  hall  of  justice  with  the  ecstasy  and  fluttering  wings 
of  the  stray  dove,  in  its  return  to  Noah's  Ark,  to  find  a 
resting  place,  a  home  and  a  nest,  in  the  fond  wdsh  and  ex- 
pectation of  final  dismission  hence,  with  lightsome  heart, 
with  my  '  crest  elevated  by  hope  and  heightened  by  joy,'  and 
my  temples  bound  around  and  decorated  wath  the  laurel 
wreath  of  victory,  won  in  all  '  the  pride,  pomp,  and  circum- 
stance of  glorious  war  ' — to  pursue,  in  peaceful  silence  and 
improving  solitude,  that  plan  of  legal  studies  which  I  have 
crayoned  out  for  myself.  Should  this,  however,  not  be  the 
case,  and  this  ray  of  hope  be  dashed  to  the  ground — but  I 
will  not  anticipate  the  judgment  of  the  Court. 

"  '  The  dawn  is  over-cast,  the  morning  lowers. 
And  heavily  in  clouds 

Brings  on  the  day,  the  great,  the  important  d:iy — 
Big  with  the  fate  of  Cato,  and  of  Rome.' 

"  I  cannot  help  reflecting  on  the  peculiarity  of  fortune, 
which  perpetually  imposes  on  me  the  necessity  of  appearing 
and  re-appearing,  in  my  own  case.  With  Burke,  I  may 
truly  say,  Nitor  in  adoerswn  is  the  motto  for  a  man  like 
me.  I  am  not,  however,  without  consolation  and  encou- 
ragement from  high  examples.  Demosthenes  and  Cicero 
were  both  subjected  to  the  same  fortune,  though,  I  believe, 
not  in  so  great  degree.  Cicero  pleaded  pro  domo,  for  his 
own  house,  burned  down  by  a  faction ;  and  Demosthenes 
made  a  noble  stand  in  persona,  against  his  guardian,  who 
had  defrauded  him  of  part  of  his  estate.  I,  too,  may  pre- 
sume to  venture  on  the  same  ground,  and  draw  my  weapon, 
in  self-defence,  surely, — 


492  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

" '  Unless  self-charity  be  some  time  a  vice. 
And  to  defend  ourselves  it  be  a  sin. 
When  violence  assails  us.' 

"  This  circumstance  reminds  me  of  my  professional  debut 
iu  Charleston,  some  ten,  or  twelve,  or  more  years  ago, 
when  one  of  your  Honors,  whom  I  have  in  my  eye,*  was 
then  and  there,  one  of  my  judges.  And  although  I  was 
defeated,  and  hardly  defeated,  still,  I  retain  a  vivid  recollec- 
tion of  the  dignified  sympathy  and  sensibility  of  his  Honor, 
Judge  Waties,  on  that  trying  occasion.  His  Honor,  Judge 
de  Saussure  also,  then  at  the  bar,  at  the  instance  of  my  friend 
Lightwood,  alas  !  since  dead  and  gone  to  his  account,  had 
the  goodness,  with  the  kindest  promptitude  and  alacrity,  to 
make  some  introductory  and  very  favorable  observations  on 
my  subject.  And  I  hope,  their  Honors  will  not  be  displeased 
at  the  liberty  I  take  in  presenting  to  their  minds,  this,  to 
me,  at  least,  pleasing  image  of  agreeable  reminiscence.  I 
know  where  I  am.  I  understand  perfectly  well  the  genius 
of  this  Court.  Nothing  burns  here,  but  the  lamp  of  legal 
science.  Lighting,  then,  my  slender  taper  at  this  glorious 
fountain  of  illumination,  and  holding  it  in  my  hand,  I  pro- 
pound for  the  consideration  of  the  Court  the  following 
questions,  namely : — 

"  First,  whether  a  will  or  devise  may  be  revoked  or  in- 
validated pro  tanto,  or  in  part  only  ? 

"  Secondly,  whether  the  one  or  the  other  may  be  re- 
voked or  invalidated,  in  Avhole,  or  in  part,  by  importunity  or 
undue  influence  alone  ? 

"  Thirdly,  if  neither  can  be  so  revoked  or  invalidated  by 
importunity,  singly,  whether,  if  with  this  strong  circum- 
stance of  improper  influence,  there  be  connected  facts  or 
transactions  indicative  of  fraud,  a  will  or  devise  may  not  be 
in  whole,  or  in  part,  revoked  or  invalidated  ? 

"  Fourthly,  whether,  for  this  purpose,  parol  CAidence  may 
be  admitted  to  prove  fraud,  or  undue  influence  ? 

"  The  fifth  and  last  question  which  I  shall  propose,  arises 
out  of  the  construction  of  the  Act  of  eighteen  hundred  and 
eight, — the  institutional  and  organic  Act  of  this  Court. 
It  is  this  :  whether   upon  a  fair,   rational,    and  correct  con- 


Bowing  to  Judge  Waties. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  493 

struction  of  that  Statute,  the  old,  firmly  established,  long 
praetised  remedies  by  re-hearing  or  bill  of  review,  should 
be  eousidcred  and  adjudged  to  be  abolished,  and  the  right 
or  privilege  of  appeal  to  this  Court  substituted  in  loco,  or  in 
place  of  those  remedies  ? 

"  Numerous  otber  questions,  out  of  this  ease,  might  no 
doubt  be  raised  and  suggested  by  subtle  and  learned  inge- 
nuity,— for  what  subject  may  not  be  infinitely  ramified  ? — 
but  these,  and  particularly  the  last,  as  being  a  preclusive 
question,  if  decided  against  the  remedies  by  re-hearing  or 
bill  of  review,  appear  to  me  to  be  the  principal  or  most 
important." 

After  treating  these  questions  at  great  length,  in  M^hich 
not  only  many  legal  authorities,  but  other  authors,  as  Shak- 
speare,  are  learnedly  discussed — he  goes  on  to  notice  in 
much  detail,  and  expose  the  many  errors  connected  with 
the  previous  proceedings  both  at  law  and  in  equity,  and 
concludes  in  the  following  strain  : — 

"  May  it  please  your  Honors, — Shall  I  be  permitted  to 
subjoin  a  few  words  more,  on  my  own  little  subject  ?  Yes. 
Ipse  de  me  scribam.  Inheriting  a  very  delicate  constitution, 
suff'ering  almost  perpetual  ill-health,  possessing  a  disposition, 
not  of  the  most  Soeratic  kind,  and  a  temper  not  formed  of 
the  sternest  stuff, — subjected  before  twelve  years  of  age  to 
that  orphanage  which  springs  from  the  grave, — east  out,  at 
this  late  day,  from  the  moorings  of  the  hearth,  and  dis- 
missed from  the  '  mild  majesty  of  private  life,' — is  it  a 
matter  of  the  smallest  wonder  that  I  should  have  run  into 
some  eccentricities  ;  that  I  should  have  indulged  in  some 
little  aberrations  from  the  strict  line  of  perfect  rectitude  ; 
that  I  should  have  yielded  for  a  moment  to  those  amiable 
frailties,  those  '  sweet  follies,  which  should  be  known  to 
friends  alone,  and  men  of  generous  minds  ?•*  Have  not 
some  of  the  finest  and  fairest  characters  in  history,  been 
guilty  of  still  stranger  deviations  from  the  rigid  rules  of 
morality  ?" 

{Collateral  Remarks.) — "  May  it  please  your  Honors,  in 
making  this  observation  I  did  not  intend,  merely  to  appeal 
to  the  general  reading  and  opulent  memory  of  the  Court. 
But,  passing  by   the   case  of  Csesar,  who  wept  before  the 


494  HISTORY   OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

statue  of  Alexander^  because,  at  his  age,  lie  had  performed 
no  action  worthy  the  pen  of  the  historian ;  and  descending 
a  long  tract  of  time,  I  cannot  refrain  from  citing,  as  a  most 
signal  instance,  the  character  and  conduct  of  Charles  James 
Fox.  With  him,  as  with  most  other  elevated  souls,  pru- 
dence was  not  the  favorite  virtue.  Nor  is  this  to  be  wondered 
at ;  for  genius,  generally  built  on  strong  passions,  is  the  most 
sublime  and  effervescent  principle  in  nature. 

"■  That  great  and  amiable  man,  after  having  lost  and  won, 
and  lost  again,  his  immense  patrimonial  estate, — after  having 
been  abandoned  by  all  his  friends  as  a  victim  to  his  vices, — 
possessed  so  much  sensibility,  so  much  fortitude,  so  much 
intelligence,  such  a  just  and  manly  confidence  in  his  many 
virtues,  in  his  fascinating  manners  and  his  gigantic  talent, — 
that,  recalling  his  recollection,  and  shaking  himself  into 
returning  energy,— like  another  phoenix,  he  arose  out  of  his 
own  ashes,  and  presided  over  the  destinies  of  a  great  empire. 
Acliilles  was  vulnerable  in  the  heel.  Nations  are  subject 
to  strange  and  frightful  ebullitions.  Nature  herself  is 
irregular.  A  superior  influence,  irresistibly,  and  at  will, 
guides  and  controls  the  destinies  of  the  physical  and  moral 
world.  The  lofty  stem  of  the  pine  yields  like  a  sapling  to 
the  force  of  the  tempest.  The  robust  poplai',  with  his 
vigorous  roots,  also  bows  before  the  overruling  energies  of 
nature.  So,  even  so,  it  is  with  man.  The  great  Napoleon 
himself, — that  unrivalled  master  of  the  sublime  science  of  war, 
that  moral  volcano,  which  has  thrown  out  suchbitter  substance, 
— submits,  with  profound  and  dignified  humility  to  a  ruthless 
climate, — fairly  and  greatly  acknowledges,  in  the  face  of 
Europe,  and  of  the  world,  the  imperious  power  of  inveterate 
circumstances.  At  a  still  later  period,  on  the  final  catas- 
trophe of  the  grand  tragi- comic  drama  of  France,  and  of 
Europe,  this  distinguished  personage,  this  modern  Caesar, 
exhibited  no  less  strikingly  and  gloriously  for  himself,  the 
fortitude,  combined  with  the  sensibility  of  a  man,  and  of  a 
hero.  But  to  return — As  for  myself,  may  it  please  your 
Honors,  in  the  peaceful,  noiseless  tenor  of  my  way,  I  have 
been  for  years  rolling  the  stone  of  Sisyphus.  Once  did  I 
flatter  myself,  that  I  had  securely  planted  it  on  the  summit 
of  the  mountain,  and  assumed  a  commanding  attitude.      But, 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  495 

fortune  frowned,  tlic  political  horizon  thickened  and  blackened, 
this  disastrous  case,  like  the  ghost  of  Brutus,  stalked  before 
nie, — these  successive  causes,  eventually  combining  and  co- 
operating, with  united  and  irresistible  energy  seized  me  by 
the  top,  and  again  hurled  me  to  the  bottom.  In  this  humble 
and  prostrate  posture,  whilst  I  feelingly  own  with  Cardinal 
Wolsey, — making  all  due  allowance  for  comparative  elevation 
and  depression, — '  the  blessedness  of  being  little,' — let  me,  at 
the  same  time,  surpass  in  religious  resignation  that  ambitious 
prelate,  and  submit  to  the  revengeful  reverses  of  fortune, 
with  manly  dignity  and  philosophic  fortitude.  The  master 
orator  of  the  French  Revolution,  no  less  forcibly  than 
beautifully  observes  that,  '  reputation  is  the  flame  upon  the 
altar;  cease  to  feed  it,  and  it  expires/  Sincerely  penetrated 
and  deeply  impressed  with  this  great  truth, — it  is  my  firm  and 
fixed  resolution  to  weave  up  all  my  follies,  and  in  future,  to 
hold,  if  possible,  my  '  course  unfaltering,  up  the  steep  ascent 
of  virtue,'  and  manfully  and  steadily  to  direct  all  the  energies 
of  my  mind  and  body,  to  the  enviable  acquisition  of  a  '  local 
habitation  and  a  name/ 

"  With  this  view,  and  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  high 
purpose,  I  should  have  selected,  had  health  permitted,  this 
city,  on  account  of  its  many  great  and  singular  advantages, 
as  the  place  of  my  permanent  residence,  and  the  theatre  of 
my  future  exertions.  The  College  Library,  of  itself,  would 
have  been  a  great  consideration  and  inducement.  That 
superb  and  spacious  accommodation  of  science,  which  reflects 
so  much  honor  on  the  wisdom  and  liberality  of  the  State, 
is  destined,  in  a  few  years,  to  produce  a  Avonderful  revolution 
in  the  state  of  society  and  of  literature  in  our  infant 
Republic.  No  longer  will  the  eye  of  liberal  curiosity  and 
anxious  inquiry  be  directed  to  a  particular  city,  or  a  particular 
section  of  the  State,  in  search  of  men  of  genius  and  of 
learning.  They  will  be  found  here ;  they  will  be  found 
everywhere;  they  will  be  found  seated  at  the  foot,  and  under 
the  black  and  frowning  brow  of  bald  and  sterile  mountains, — 
contemplating  the  sublime  beauties  of  nature,  and  causing 
her  to  startle  at  the  vast  penetration  of  man,  which  can  lay 
open  and  reveal  her  own  mighty  and  occult  secrets,  and  even 
probe  her  to  the  quick. 


496  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

"  May  it  please  your  Honors  :  after  tliis  exertion,  may  I, 
dare  I^  lay  hold  of  a  small  corner  of  the  skirt  or  robe  of 
fame,  and  holding  that  in  my  hand,  and  following  the  high 
example,  and  supporting  myself  by  the  great  name  and 
authority  of  Montesquieu,  assume  and  repeat,  with  him,  and 
after  him,  the  lofty  sentiment  of  Correggio, — '  And  I  also  am 
a  painter  V 

"  May  it  please  your  Honors :  I  close  in  the  style — 
excuse  the  association — of  Sheridan^  and  of  our  Saviour  :  '  I 
have  done ' — '  It  is  finished/  '"'* 

To  this  speech  Major  Blanding  replied,  and  Mr.  Hooker 
concluded  the  pleadings  for  the  appellants. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  term,  the  opinion  of  the  Court, 
adverse  to  Mr.  Lide,  was  pronounced  by  Chancellor  de 
Saussure — precluding  all  further  appeal  to  that  tribunal. 
This  was  in  December,  1814.  As  a  last  alternative,  Mr. 
Lide  presented  a  memorial  to  the  Legislature  during  the 
session  of  1816 — setting  forth  briefly  the  history  of  the 
cause  from  its  beginning — urging  the  errors  into  which  the 
Courts  had  fallen,  and  the  example  of  a  celebrated  case  in 
England,  in  which,  the  parties  having  failed  in  the  Courts, 
Parliament  granted  relief.  Referring  to  this  precedent^  he 
says  in  conclusion  :  "  That  was  nobly  done.  Now,  I  ask, 
will  a  republic  be  less  generous  than  a  monarchy  ?  Surely 
not.  Your  memorialist,  therefore,  in  honest  confidence, 
respectfully  prays  this  honorable  body,  to  refund  to  him  out 
of  the  treasury  of  the  State,  in  imitation  of  the  British 
example,  the  amount  of  which  your  memorialist  has  been 
thus  wi'ongfully  deprived  by  a  Court  of  ulterior  decision, — 
or  to  grant  him  such  other  relief  as  to  your  wisdom  shall 
seem  meet. 

"  And  your  memorialist  further  suggests,  that  before  such 
a  state  of  things    should    any  longer  be   suffered  to  exist. 


*  "  The  concluding  sentences,"  Mr.  Lide  adds  in  a  note,  "  from  their  brevity, 
and  from  a  natural  wish  to  close  with  dignity,  were  pronounced  recitatively ; 
but  I  was  not  a  little  mortified  on  being  informed  that  that  tone  of  voice, 
between  common  speech  and  song,  should  have  been  mistaken  by  the  audience, 
respectable  and  enlightened  as  it  was,  for  actual  singing.  Considering  the 
greatness  and  solemnity  of  the  occasions  on  which  these  expressions  were  used, 
and  also  theii*  conciseness,  I  am,  myself,  convinced  that  1  acted  with  taste  and 
judgment." 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAW3.  497 

your  memorialist,  for  one,  would  rejoice  to  see  the  proud 
temples  of  legal  seience  topple  on  their  warders'  heads^ 
thorns  and  thistles  grow  and  flourish  on  their  consecrated 
foundations,  and  the  mournful  turtle-dove  utter  her  melan- 
choly note,  where  the  goddess  of  justice  should  have  sat 
enthroned." 

The  memorial  Avas  referred  to  a  special  joint  committee 
of  both  Houses,  of  which  the  late  Governor  John  Lide 
Wilson  was  one.  Mr.  Lide  was  requested  to  appear  and 
plead  his  cause  before  the  committee.  He  did  so ;  and 
came  in  a  costume  as  singular,*  as  his  appearance  was  wild 
and  haggard.  Every  exertion  of  his  genius  and  eloquence 
had  hitherto  failed.  Breaking  forth,  as  a  final  effort,  with 
expiring  splendor,  his  varied  powers  were  all  brought  into 
commanding  requisition.  It  was  to  be  the  triumph,  or  the 
failure  of  his  life.  The  committee  gave  him  a  long  and 
patient  hearing,  for  the  case  had  now  become  one  of  peculiar 
and  mournful  interest, — added  to  which,  his  character,  his 
geniusj  his  declining  fortunes,  and  previous  efforts  in  the 
cause,  had  given  him  a  sad  celebrity.  With  the  progress  of 
his  speech,  the  excitement,  even  with  that  select  body  of 
legislators^  became  painfully  intense,  and  when  he  closed,  in 
the  words  and  recitative  style  of  his  last  effort  before  the 
Court — "  I  have  done — It  is  finished,^^ — every  member  of 
the  committee  was  bathed  in  tears. f 

Though  the  personal  interest  he  excited  was  deep  and 
universal,  relief  was  not  granted ;  and  shortly  after,  the 
flickering  taper,  which  had  thus  been  kindled  by  the  stimulus 
of  the  occasion  into  a  flame  of  unearthly  brightness,  was 
extinguished  in  death  ! 

It  was  equally  a  misfortune  for  himself  and  the  State, 
that  adverse  circumstances  at  an  early  period  should  have 
given  a  morbid  direction  to  Mr.  Lide's  character  and  subse- 
quent course.  Continued  disappointment  only  served  to 
increase  this  disposition  and,  as  a  fatal  canker,  it  ate  out  his 


*  He  appeared  in  a  blanket,  as  his  outer  garb,  with  hair  dishevelled,  sunken, 
piercing  eyes,  and  huge  folios  of  the  law  in  strong  array. 

t  Governor  Wilson  described  it  to  the  Author,  with  evident  emotion  even 
then,  though  nearly  forty  years  had  passed  away,  as  a  scene  surpassing  the 
power  of  language  to  pourtray. 

K  K 


498  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

life.  It  led  to  an  irregularity  of  habit  and  unsteadiness  of 
purpose,  whicLi  precluded  the  possibility  of  success. 

He  was  not  more  fond  of  the  law  as  a  study,  than  devoted 
to  literary  pursuits.  His  speeches  throughout  abound  with 
allusions  indicative  of  a  richly  stored  mind.  Shakspeare, 
of  all  others,  was  his  text-book,  and  in  the  depths  of  that 
universal  genius,  few,  perhaps,  have  ever  been  more  pro- 
foundly versed.  His  familiarity  with,  and  command  on  all 
occasions  of  this  great  author,  are  said  by  those  who  remem- 
ber him,  to  have  been  extraordinary. 

The  late  Hugh  S.  Legare,  of  Charleston,  the  Cicero  of 
Carolina,  who  heard  him  on  one  of  the  memorable  occasions 
connected  with  the  case  to  which  attention  has  been  given, 
is  reported  to  have  said,  that  Mr.  Lide  was  the  greatest 
genius  he  had  ever  seen  !  A  similar  remark  was  also  made 
by  the  celebrated  Dr.  Maxcy.  In  his  death  Pedee  mourned 
her  most  erratic,  but  one  of  her  most  gifted  sons.  His 
mantle,  rare  and  peculiar  as  it  was,  has  fallen  upon  no  other 
since. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CIIERAWS.  499 


CHAPTER    XX. 

Samuel  Wilds— His  early  life — Filial  devotion — Admission  to  the  Bar — Un- 
bounded popularity — His  election  to  the  Legislature — Made  Solicitor — Pro- 
motion to  the  Bench — Impression  made  upon  the  people — Ch;irge  to  the 
Grand  Jury  of  Abbeville  District — Feeling  expressed  by  the  Grand  Jury — 
Sentence  on  Slater — Sentence  on  John  Tollison — His  last  Court  in  Charleston 
— His  death — Its  eifect  on  the  public  mind— Proceedings  of  Bar  of  Charles- 
ton— Proceedings  at  Sumpter — Obituary  notices — Lines  suggested  by  his 
death. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  a  few  of  the  more  distin- 
guished of  those  who  had  been  among  the  early  pupils  of  the 
academy  of  St.  David's.  There  was  another,  the  brightest 
of  the  rising  stars  in  her  firmament  when  the  sun  of  the 
last  century  went  down  on  the  Pedee. 

Samuel  Wilds  is  a  name,  in  the  language  of  the  late 
venerable  Chief  Justice  of  South  Carolina,  "  which  chal- 
lenges respect  even  after  he  has  rested  in  the  silence  of  the 
grave  for  nearly  fifty  years.''''  He  was  the  second  son  of 
John  Wilds,  and  born  March  4th,  1775,  in  that  part  of 
Cheraw  District  which  subsequently  became  Marlborough 
County.*  His  father  died  early,  leaving  a  large  family, 
whose  support  devolved  chiefly  on  Samuel,  who  was  then 
a  youth. 

In  mind  and  character  his  mother  was  no  common 
woman,  and  from  her,  doubtless,  the  superior  traits  of  the 
son  were  inherited.  Her  virtues  inspired  respect  in  all 
who  knew  her,  and  commanded,  on  the  part  of  her  noble 
son,  the  most  affectionate  and  touching  veneration.  She  is 
sg^d  by  one  Avho  knew  her,  to  have  been  "  a  distinguished 
lady  for  her  day.''  His  brother,  John,  was  a  young  man 
of  remarkable  promise,  but  died  just  as  he  had  prepared 
himself,  as  a  physician,  for   entering   on   the  work    of  life. 


*  Judge  O'Neall    is   mistaken   in    supposing  Darlington  the  place   of  hi 
nativity. 

K  K  2 


500  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

To    his    education   and    advancement,    the    subject    of   this 
notice  had  devoted  himself  with  unsparing  solicitude. 

The  early  life  of  Samuel  Wilds  was  a  period  of  sore  and 
continuous  struggle  against  seemingly  adverse  fortune. 
The  fruits  of  his  youthful  labors  were  mainly  devoted  to 
the  support  and  comfort  of  his  mother  and  her  helpless 
family.  But  a  portion  of  his  time  and  slender  means,  as  a 
consequence,  could  be  devoted  to  his  own  improvement. 
He  acted,  when  quite  young  for  such  a  position,  as  local 
deputy  sheriff  of  the  district,  was  also  assistant  for  a  time 
under  Thomas  Park,  in  the  academy  of  St.  David's,  and 
afterwards  became  the  Principal.  This  school  was  his 
only  alma  mater.  The  filial  devotion  which  he  exhibited* 
with  unwavering  constancy,  through  years  of  trying  priva- 
tion, was  the  most  beautiful  trait  in  the  character  of  young 
Wilds,  and  continued  to  be  its  brightest  ornament,  after 
he  had  reached  his  maturity  and  was  crowned  with  the 
lustre  of  august  position  and  distinguished  fame.  It  was  a 
solid  basis  for  greatness,  other  elements  of  strength  being 
added,  and  a  model  for  the  young  of  every  generation.  It 
was  not  until  his  twenty-third  year,  every  difficulty  having 
been  surmounted,  that  the  first  summit  in  his  nobly  aspiring 
career  was  reached,  in  his  admission  to  the  Bar,  of  which  he 
was  soon  to  become  the  ornament  and  pride.  During  the 
same  year,  he  became  a  candidate  for  popular  favor,  but 
being  yet  comparatively  unknown,  and  with  strong  influences 
opposing  him,  lost  his  election  to  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives by  a  small  minority.  About  this  time  he  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Captain  Wm.  Dewitt,  who  contri- 
buted largely  to  his  happiness,  and  survived  him  many 
years."^  One  of  his  first  speeches  was  made  at  the  Bar  of 
Sumpter,  in  a  case  for  which  he  had  been  retained  by  Daniel 
Du  Bose.  His  success  was  complete.  It  was  in  the  early 
stage  of  the  court ;  and  such  was  the  effect  of  his  eloquence, 
that  many  clients  came  to  him  at  once  and  secured  his 
services,  giving   him   a   good  practice    at  the    start,  and  an 


*  This  excellent  lady  subsequently  married  Dr.  Thomas  Smith,  of  Society 
Hill ;  a  pattern  of  the  wife,  mother,  friend,  and  Christian.  Dr.  Smith  yet 
remains,  after  a  long  life  of  usefulness  and  honor,  one  of  the  very  few  left  of 
that  generation. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  501 

established  reputation  as  a  lawyer  tlirougliout  tlie  circuit. 
It  was  an  almost  unexampled  instance  of  the  kind,  Ilis 
popularity^  the  spontaneous  tribute  paid  to  his  exalted  worth, 
was  now  so  great,  that  in  the  election  of  1802,  as  already 
stated,  he  was  triumphantly  elected  to  the  Legislature. 

In  December  of  that  year,  he  was  made  solicitor  of  the 
Northern  and  Eastern  Circuit.  This  position  gave  him  a 
wider  field  for  the  display  of  his  peculiar  powers,  and 
brought  him  more  geuerally  into  notice.  The  result  was, 
that  two  years  after,  he  was  elected  judge,  and  took  his  seat 
on  the  bench  before  the  completion  of  his  thirtieth  year. 
He  had  then  been  but  six  years  at  the  Bar,  to  which  he 
was  admitted  with  slender  opportunities  for  preparation. 
Yet,  so  rapidly  had  he  mastered  that  system  and  those 
principles  which  he  was  now  to  administer  and  elucidate, 
that  the  ermine  sat  as  easily  and  gracefully  upon  him  as  if 
he  had  passed  through  the  most  thorough  course  of  study 
and  a  practice  of  many  years.  A  deep  impression  was 
made  upon  the  people  of  the  State  wherever  he  travelled 
his  circuits  for  the  first.  To  a  commanding  and  handsome 
person  were  added  a  dignity  and  simplicity,  with  a  winning 
ease  and  grace  of  manner,"^  which  inspired  profound  respect 
and  captivated  every  heart. 

His  charges  were  learned  and  instructive,  and  his  sen- 
tences pathetic  and  eloquent.  Of  the  former,  one  specimen 
is  fortunately  yet  extant.  It  ajDpeared  in  the  Charleston 
Courier,  of  INIay  5,  1807,  with  some  prefatory  remarks  by 
the  Editors,  showing  the  impression  made  upon  the  public 
mind  at  the  time. 


*  It  is  related  of  him,  that  while  holding  his  first  Court  in  Charleston,  a 
large  ball  was  given,  to  which,  with  other  dignitaries.  Judge  Wilds  was  invited. 

He  was  not  provided  with  the  usual  dress  for  such  an  occasion,  and  pleaded 
that  as  an  excuse  for  not  attending.  His  friends,  however,  furniahed  from  their 
own  wardrobes  what  was  wanting,  and  no  alternative  was  left  but  to  make  his 
debiit.  Chancellor  De  Saussure,  himself  a  model  of  elegance,  felt  some  ap- 
prehension how  his  brother,  for  whom  he  had  a  high  regard,  and  raw,  as  he 
thought,  from  the  country,  would  sustain  himself,  and  with  another  friend,  kept 
near  him  for  a  while  as  a  support.  He  was  introduced  to  a  lady,  who  complained 
that  the  lights  were  not  burning  brightly.  He  instantly  replied,  in  his  liappiest 
manner,  "  that  with  such  brightness  as  he  saw  beaming  from  the  beautiful  eyes 
around  liim,  the  light  could  not  grow  dim ;"  upon  wliich,  the  Chancellor  re- 
marked to  his  companion,  "  That  is  enough  ;  Wilds  can  take  care  of  himself, 
and  we  may  go  about  our  business." 


502  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

The  estimate  placed  upon  it  by  the  grand  juiy,  to  whom 
it  was  addressed,  is  sufficiently  indicated  by  the  language 
of  the  presentment  and  the  request  appended  to  the  charge. 

"  We  call  the  attention  of  our  readers  to  the  very  excel- 
lent charge  of  Judge  Wilds,  which  occupies  so  large  a  part 
of  this  day^s  paper.  The  good  sense,  sound  policy,  and 
genuine  patriotism  which  it  contains,  render  it  deserving  of 
the  most  attentive  and  serious  perusal. 

"  We  sincerely  hope  that  his  liberal  sentiments  may  be 
productive  of  all  the  good  they  are  so  well  calculated  to 
produce. 

"  (charge  delivered  by  Judge  Wilds  to  the  Grand  Jury  of 
Abbeville  District,  on  Monday,  16th  of  March  last,  and  pub- 
lished at  their  request. 

"• '  Gentlemen  of  the  Grand  Jury  : 

"  *  You  have  so  often,  I  apprehend,  had  your  duties 
as  grand  jurors  explained  to  you,  and  the  regular  organiza- 
tion of  our  courts  has  given  such  frequent  occasions  to  the 
exercise  of  these  duties,  that  perhaps  it  may  be  unnecessary 
for  me,  at  this  time,  to  address  you  on  that  subject ;  however, 
as  I  consider  them  of  great  importance,  both  to  the  commu- 
nity and  to  yourselves,  and  believe  it  impossible  that  their 
nature  and  extent  can  be  made  too  familiar  to  your  minds, 
I  claim  the  indulgence  of  a  few  observations. 

"  '  The  great  outlines  of  your  duty  are  strongly  marked  in 
the  solemn  and  impressive  oath  which  has  been  just  admi- 
nistered to  you.  ''  You  shall  diligently  inquire  and  true 
presentment  make  of  all  such  matters  and  things  as  shall 
be  given  you  in  charge.  You  shall  present  no  one  from 
envy,  hatred,  malice,  or  ill-will ;  neither  shall  you  leave 
any  one,  unpresented,  from  fear,  favor,  affection,  or  hope  of 
reward. ^^ 

"  '  As  the  Grand  Inquest  of  your  District  you  are  charged 
with  the  inquiry,  whether  the  laws  have  been  faithfully 
observed  and  executed ;  and  this  delicate  trust  you  arc 
sworn  impartially  to  discharge.  Upon  your  accusation  alone 
will  the  Court  entertain  even  the  suspicion  of  guilt  against 
the  most  obscure  individual :  and,  on  the  other  hand,  when 
once  you  have  preferred  such  accusation,  neither  the  most 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  503 

dignified  station,  nor  the  most  exalted  endowments,  can 
screen  the  person  accused  from  the  necessity  of  publicly 
vindicating  his  innocence,  or  of  submitting  to  the  penalties 
prepared  for  guilt.  Under  this  stern  despotism  of  the  law 
are  completely  levelled  all  those  artificial  distinctions  which 
the  refinements  of  civil  society  are  continually  imposing  on 
mankind. 

"  *  It  is,  after  all,  gentlemen,  in  the  temple  of  justice  alone 
that  the  high  and  the  low,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  are 
brought  to  feel  their  original  equality.  Well  has  the 
patriot  and  philanthropist  regarded  the  trial  by  juiy  as  one 
of  the  strongest  evidences  of  national  freedom  ;  for  so  long 
as  the  benefits  of  this  mode  of  decision  are  within  reach, 
neither  the  bold  attacks  nor  the  secret  approaches  of  lawless 
power  can  long  oppress  with  impunity.  In  proportion, 
then,  to  the  importance  of  your  present  functions,  should 
be  your  exertions  for  their  faithful  discharge.  Whilst,  on 
the  one  hand,  no  artifice  should  secure  the  guilty  from 
your  animadversion,  your  cautious  scrutiny,  on  the  other, 
should  form  a  rampart  of  security  around  the  innocent." 

"  '  It  is  no  apology  for  an  over-hasty  and  groundless  accu- 
sation preferred  by  a  grand  jury,  that  the  person  accused, 
before  he  can  be  made  liable  to  the  penalty  of  the  law, 
must  be  again  found  guilty  by  another  jury  after  a  more 
strict  and  solemn  inquiry ;  for  besides  the  expense  and 
vexation  which  it  may  occasion  to  procure  a  discharge,  an 
acquittal  by  the  petit  jury  will  not  entirely  wipe  away 
the  reproach  of  having  been  esteemed  guilty  by  a  grand 
jury,  equal  at  least  in  number  and  equally  bound  to  do 
impartial  justice.  You  all  know  and  feel  the  value  of 
character,  and  I  can  recommend  no  better  rule  by  which 
you  should  discharge  your  present  duties  than  that  which 
should  influence  the  discharge  of  every  other  duty,  namely, 
"  do  unto  others  as  you  would  have  them  do  unto  you." 

" '  Besides  the  examination  of  such  bills  as  shall  be  laid 
before  you  by  the  attorney  on  behalf  of  the  State,  there  are 
a  variety  of  other  matters  subject  to  your  cognizance  and 
animadversion  ;  and  though  this  power,  in  its  first  exercise, 
be  merely  censorial,  not  of  itself  subjecting  those  against 
whom  it  is  directed  to  legal  punishment,  I  will  venture  to 


504  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

promise^  should  your  investigations  present  to  view  offences 
requiring  corrections  more  forcible  than  censure,  such  cor- 
rections will  not  be  withheld. 

"  'Everything  relating  to  the  internal  policy  of  your  district 
is  properly  a  subject  of  your  inquiry ;  such,  for  instance, 
are  your  public  roads,  highways,  and  bridges.  The  great 
importance  of  good  roads  to  every  country  none  will  deny. 
But,  to  a  country  situated  like  yours,  remote  from  every 
advantage  of  water  carriage,  good  roads  are  all-important. 
The  widely-spreading  progress  of  population  and  agricul- 
tural improvement  in  your  district,  well  adapted  by  nature 
to  the  cultivation  of  our  staple  commodity,  renders  inex- 
cusable the  present  state  of  your  public  roads.  Perhaps 
there  is  no  circumstance  which  so  strongly  marks  the  pro- 
gress of  a  country  in  civilization  as  attention  to  their  public 
highways.  We  find  amongst  the  first  objects  which  have 
attracted  the  attention  of  nations  but  just  emerging  from 
barbarism,  some  rude  attempt  to  facilitate  their  intercourse 
by  roads ;  and  it  is  one,  among  the  first  instances,  in  which 
the  solitary,  selfish  independence  of  the  individual  is  brought 
to  yield  something  for  the  public  good.  But,  were  this  the 
only  test  by  which  to  ascertain  the  advancement  of  a 
country  in  civilization,  I  should  greatly  flatter  you,  gentle- 
men, did  I  not  tell  you  your  progress  was  small  indeed. 

" '  If  you  should  think  as  I  do,  that  those  to  whom  the 
laws  have  confided  this  branch  of  police,  have  shamefully 
neglected  their  duty,  it  becomes  yours  to  say  so ;  and  upon 
your  presentment,  the  Court  will  direct  such  measures  as 
will,  in  all  probability,  occasion  more  attention  to  this  sub- 
ject in  future.  Such,  also,  are  the  laws  relative  to  the 
performance  of  patrol  duty,  and  the  government  of  slaves. 
These  laws  are  strict,  and  policy  requires  they  should  be 
strictly  observed ;  and  it  will  be  a  departure  from  duty  in 
you  to  suffer  any  known  violation  of  them  to  pass  unno- 
ticed ;  and  such  are  all  offences  against  the  laws,  either  of 
omission  or  commission,  either  in  any  of  your  public  func- 
tionaries, or  in  private  individuals,  which  may  come  to 
your  knowledge,  and  which  have  not  otherwise  been  brought 
to  the  view  of  the  Court.  Another  branch  of  jurisdiction 
which  I  hold  to  be  legitimately  yours,  is  the  office  of  Censors, 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  505 

exercised  by  grand  juries,  over  the  private  vices  and  im- 
moralities of  individuals.  It  is  my  duty,  however,  to  inform 
you,  that  this  power,  as  incidental  to  your  body,  is  ques- 
tioned by  many,  and  denied  to  you  by  some.  Under 
institutions  like  ours,  resting  entirely  upon  public  opinion, 
where  so  much  depends  upon  public  virtue,  I  consider  its 
existence  somewhere  of  first  necessity.  The  spiritual  cen- 
sures to  which,  in  other  countries,  many  of  these  offences 
are  consigned,  in  a  country  like  ours,  where  every  person 
worships  his  Maker  as  he  pleases,  or  impiously  refuses  to 
worship  him  at  all,  would  indeed  be  feeble;  and  I  am 
aware  of  no  rule,  legal,  political,  or  moral,  which  denies  to 
you  the  right  to  express,  either  as  a  body  or  individuals, 
either  privately  or  publicly,  to  individuals,  to  the  Court,  to 
the  Legislature,  or  to  the  world,  your  abhorrence  of  vice 
and  its  perpetrators.  There  are  a  great  variety  of  dvities 
which  society  imposes  on  us,  upon  the  performance  of  which 
its  welfare  very  much  depends ;  and  as  many  vices,  de- 
structive of  its  interests,  which  should  be  prevented,  that 
acknowledge  not  the  coercion  of  municipal  law.  The  im- 
possibility of  reaching  the  evil  by  legal  remedy  has  left  the 
performance  of  these  duties,  and  the  prevention  of  these 
vices,  entirely  dependent  upon  moral  rule.  That  drunken- 
ness, lying,  duplicity,  ingratitude,  lewdness,  and  debauchery, 
amongst  a  variety  of  other  offences  of  the  same  descrip- 
tion, are  evils  seriously  injurious  to  society,  none  will  deny ; 
and  that  any  adequate  punishment  is  provided  for  them 
by  the  laws,  none  will  pretend.  They  can  only  be  pre- 
vented, then,  by  their  strong  repugnance  to  the  moral  sense 
of  the  community,  and  by  the  reprobation  of  the  influential 
and  virtuous.  The  dread  of  being  dragged  into  public 
view  by  the  penetrating  scrutiny  of  an  impartial  grand 
juiy,  and  of  having  their  vices  exposed  to  the  animadver- 
sion of  the  world,  will  prevent  many  from  offending.  Should 
you  feel  it  your  duty  to  exercise  this  power,  you  will  at 
once  see  the  importance  of  proceeding  with  great  delicacy 
and  caution.  Grand  Juries  frequently  exercise  the  privilege 
of  expressing,  as  a  body,  their  opinions  on  matters  of  public 
concern ;  and  Legislatures,  as  far  as  I  have  observed, 
uniformly  treat    such  opinions  with  respect.      As  from  the 


506  HISTORY   OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

manner  of  their  organization^  grand  juries  have  every 
opportunity  of  expressing  the  public  sense  of  their  respec- 
tive districts,  it  would,  indeed,  be  a  very  great  want  of 
wisdom  in  Legislatures  to  preclude  themselves  from  such 
correct  sources  of  information. 

"  '  Should  you  be  of  opinion  that  any  particular  vices  stalk 
with  impunity  through  the  land  for  want  of  legal  power  to 
punish  them — should  you  be  of  opinion  that  any  of  your 
rights,  either  public  or  private,  are  not  sufficiently  acknow- 
ledged and  protected  by  the  laws  of  your  country,  you  have 
the  privilege  to  tell  the  Legislature  so. 

"  '  In  making  you  acquainted  with  your  privilege  in  this 
respect,  I  have  done  my  duty ;  to  attempt  to  direct  the 
exercise  of  this  privilege,  would  be  a  departure  from  it. 
Should  you  conclude  to  address  the  Legislature,  there  is 
one  subject,  however,  to  which  I  will  venture  to  invite  your 
attention,  particularly  as  it  is  not  likely  to  awaken  any  of 
those  discordant  passions  which  so  often  convulse  the  social 
fabric,  and  render  man  the  enemy  of  man,  but  will  more 
likely  soothe  existing  asperities,  by  producing  one  honorable 
instance  at  least,  in  which  the  enlightened  and  virtuous  of 
every  party  do  cordially  unite. 

"  '  The  subject  to  which  I  allude  is  education  ;  and  I  sug- 
gest to  you  the  propriety  of  recommending  to  the  Legisla- 
ture the  adoption  of  some  general  system  by  which  the 
blessings  of  information  may  be  widely  disseminated  through 
our  country.  This  interesting  subject  has,  for  a  considera- 
ble time  past,  deeply  occupied  the  public  mind ;  and  though, 
from  the  novelty  of  the  thing,  and  the  particular  local  cir- 
cumstances of  our  country,  difficulties  have  arisen  which 
have  not  been  obviated,  yet  I  am  confident  they  must  shortly 
yield  to  reflection,  experience,  and  perseverance.  The  pros- 
perous situation  of  our  finances  invites  to  the  present  as  an 
auspicious  time  for  effecting  some  arrangement  of  this  sort ; 
and  the  warm  recommendation  of  grand  juries  will  keep 
alive  the  generous  propensity  for  some  time  entertained  on 
the  subject  by  the  Legislature;  and  receive  the  support  of 
every  enlightened  patriot  and  good  man.  The  importance 
of  knowledge,  particularly  in  a  government  like  ours,  is  felt 
by  all ;  for  besides  ameliorating  the  affections  of  the  human 


HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS.  507 

heart,  and  amplifying  the  range  of  social  enjoyment^  know- 
ledge is  the  only  sure  correction  of  the  diseases  to  which 
our  body  politic  is  ever  liable.  The  abuse  of  public  confi- 
dence will  be  best  prevented  by  enlightening  the  public 
mind.  The  great  bulk  of  the  people,  in  matters  of  public 
concern,  always  act  from  honest  motives,  and  never  do 
wrong  but  in  the  endeavour  to  do  right.  General  informa- 
tion, by  enabling  them  to  discriminate  the  modest  preten- 
sions of  merit  from  the  hollow  professions  of  the  designing 
demagogue,  by  discovering  to  them  that,  in  political  philo- 
sophy, there  is  a  point  in  improvement  at  which  abstract 
speculation  should  yield  to  practical  experiment,  would  cer- 
tainly prevent  many  improprieties  into  which  they  are  un- 
intentionally, but  sometimes  unavoidably  led. 

" '  The  important  stations  which  the  individuals  of  our 
community  occupy,  render  it  not  only  a  matter  of  humanity, 
but  of  sound  policy,  to  extend  to  those  who  lack  the  means 
of  acquiring  information,  the  public  assistance.  Born  eveiy 
man  in  a  measure  his  own  legislator,  the  public  bounty 
surely  could  not  be  better  employed  than  in  qualifying  each, 
as  far  as  practicable,  for  the  exercise  of  such  dignified  pri- 
vileges. 

"  '  However  the  sports  of  fortune,  or  the  tendency  of  civil 
institutions,  have  rendered  unequal  the  conditions  of  men ; 
as  to  political  rights  all  are  equal.  The  arrogant  preten- 
sions of  rank  and  the  haughty  domination  of  hereditary  folly 
are  not  acknowledged  in  our  system  of  government.  The 
highest  offices  are  open  to  the  claims  of  the  most  obscure 
individuals ;  and  you  need  not  be  told,  gentlemen,  that  upon 
such  individuals  a  generous  public  have  sometimes  bestowed 
their  confidence,  even  in  advance.  There  is,  therefore,  every 
inducement  to  direct  the  public  patronage  towards  the  edu- 
cation of  our  youth.  Much,  very  much,  it  must  be  con- 
ceded, has  already  been  done  by  the  Legislature  establish- 
ing, under  their  own  immediate  auspices,  at  the  seat  of 
Government,  a  seminary  of  the  first  respectability.  From  its 
central  situation,  its  benefits  are  equally  accessible  to  eveiy 
part  of  the  State  ;  and  from  its  liberal  support,  an  education 
may  be  finished  here  with  equal  advantage,  in  my  opinion, 
and  perhaps  with  less  expense,  all  things  considered,  than  at 


508  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

any  institution  of  equal  rank  on  the  Continent.  Placed  under 
tlie  immediate  direction  of  the  principal  officers  of  Govern- 
ment, with  other  trustees  of  equal  responsibility,  its  success 
and  their  reputation  are  closely  united.  The  sons  of  this 
institution  enjoy  the  singular  advantage  of  exhibiting  to 
their  countrymen,  annually  assembled,  from  every  part  of 
the  State,  the  earliest  testimonies  of  their  talents,  and  of 
having  ascertained,  before  they  step  forward  in  the  theatre 
of  life,  their  probable  success  on  it, 

''  '  The  child  of  but  yesterday,  nursed  but  a  short  time  by 
the  public  affection,  the  South  Carolina  College,  rises 
rapidly  into  eminence,  exhibiting  a  success  which  its  ene- 
mies never  feared,  and  its  most  sanguine  friends  scarce 
ever  hoped. 

" '  The  probable  consequences  resulting  from  this  institu- 
tion, render  its  establishment,  in  my  estimation,  amongst 
the  most  important  acts  of  our  State  Legislature.  Here,  a 
liberal  education  may  be  acquired,  without  contracting 
habits  and  sentiments  not  native  to  our  clime,  nor  congenial 
to  its  interests.  Here,  the  young  men  of  our  State  are 
formed,  as  it  were,  into  one  large  family,  and  the  early 
friendships  contracted  will  unite  them  through  life  as  bro- 
thers, without  regarding  the  places  of  each  others'  residence; 
and  the  present  jarring  suspicions  and  supposed  contrariety 
of  interests  between  different  parts  of  the  State  will  be  found 
to  yield  to  offices  of  mutual  kindness  and  more  enlightened 
policy.  Intellectual  worth  will  no  longer  be  ascertained  by 
geographical  boundaries,  weakly  conceived,  and  wickedly 
marked  out ;  nor  political  rights  depend  upon  propinquity  to 
the  sea,  the  sand-hills,  or  the  mountains.  Few,  I  appre- 
hend, who  possess  the  means,  will  neglect  the  present  favor- 
able opportunity  of  educating  their  sons,  and  fitting  them  for 
future  usefulness. 

"  '  But,  tmfortunately,  gentlemen,  even  in  our  own  favored 
country,  a  very  large  portion  of  its  citizens  are  not  possessed 
of  these  means ;  poor  and  friendless,  they  aspire  not  to  the 
procuring  for  their  sons  blessings  never  enjoyed  by  them- 
selves. And  shall  these  numerous  children  of  misfortune  be 
entirely  excluded  from  those  dazzling  meeds  with  which 
science  rewards   her  votaries  ?      Shall   our  country  be  de- 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  509 

prived  of  the  intellectual  services  of  that  class  of  our  fellow- 
men  on  whom  geniiis  is  most  apt  to  lavish  her  favors  ? 

"  '  Policy  and  humanity  forbid  it.  Those  astonishing  en- 
dowments of  mind  which  exalt  the  human  character  are, 
perhaps,  oftencr  found  beneath  the  humble  cottage  than  in 
the  stately  mansions  of  the  great.  A  very  large  proportion 
of  those  sages  and  heroes  who  have  adorned  the  ages  in 
which  they  lived,  were  educated  in  the  schools  of  adversity. 
A  benevolent  Providence  is,  by  this  means,  continually 
levelling  down  those  haughty  arrangements  which  the  pride 
of  families,  and  vanity  natural  to  man,  are  ever  willing  to 
raise  up. 

" '  You  are  called  together,  gentlemen,  for  the  purpose  of 
punishing  vice  and  protecting  virtue.  You  are  intended  to  be 
a  terror  to  those  who  do  evil — a  praise  to  those  who  do  well. 
It  cannot,  I  hope,  be  necessary  to  remind  you  to  act  worthily 
of  the  character  you  have  assumed  ;  and  that  it  would  be  un- 
pardonable in  you  to  neglect  those  virtues  which  you  have 
promised  to  promote,  or  to  practise  those  vices  which  you 
have  sworn  to  punish.^  " 

The  Grand  Jury,  having  made  presentments  on  education, 
roads,  &c.,  as  suggested  by  his  Honor,  concluded  with  these 
words  : — "  We  beg  leave  to  return  our  thanks  to  his  Honor, 
Judge  Wilds,  for  his  deliberate  and  punctual  attention  to 
the  business  of  this  Court,  so  far  as  it  has  progressed. 

"  We  sincerely  reciprocate  his  sentiments,  delivered  at  its 
commencement,  so  strongly  expressive  of  his  wish  for  the 
promotion  of  the  harmony  and  happiness  of  our  common 
country.  We  hope  we  may  be  permitted  to  request  a  copy 
of  his  charge  to  our  body ;  and  recommend  that  it,  together 
with  the  foregoing  presentments,  may  be  published  in  some 
public  newspaper  in  this  State. 

"  John  Arnold,  Foreman. 

"  Abbeville,  March  Term,  1807." 

The  utterance  of  such  sentiments,  so  well  expressed,  as 
were  those  of  this  charge,  was  well  calculated  to  touch  the 
popular  heart,  and  lead  the  public  mind  aright.  When  it  is 
remembered  how  limited  his  own  opportunities  of  education 
had  been,  the  few   years   of  study  which  had  followed  his 


510  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

admission  to  tlie  Bar,  and  the  yet  comparatively  early  age 
of  Judge  Wilds,  this  production,  both  as  to  excellence  of 
matter,  and  correctness  and  dignity  of  style,  is  worthy  of  all 
praise. 

The  famous  sentence*  passed  upon  Slater  for  the  murder 
of  his  own  slave,  gave  to  the  name  of  Judge  Wilds  a  world- 
wide celebrity.  It  made  a  deep  impression,  not  only  in  this 
country,  but  in  England.  It  appeared  soon  after  its  delivery, 
or  portions  of  it,  in  the  books  of  oratory  of  the  day  ;  and  as 
Judge  O'Neall  justly  remarks,  "  is  a  beautiful  and  eloquent 
specimen  of  his  powers."     It  was  in  these  words  : — 

"  John  Slater  ! 

You  have  been  convicted  by  a  jury  of  your 
country  for  the  wilful  murder  of  your  own  slave  ;  and  I  am 
sorry  to  say,  the  short,  impressive,  uncontradicted  testimony, 
on  which  that  conviction  was  founded,  leaves  but  too  little 
room  to  doubt  its  propriety. 

"  The  annals  of  human  depravity  might  be  safely  chal- 
lenged for  a  parallel  to  this  unfeeling,  bloody,  and  diabolical 
transaction. 

"  You  caused  your  unoffending,  unresisting  slave,  to 
be  bound  hand  and  foot,  and  by  a  refinement  in  cruelty, 
compelled  his  companion,  perhaps  the  friend  of  his  heart, 
to  chop  his  head  with  an  axe,  and  to  cast  his  body,  yet 
convulsing  with  the  agonies  of  death,  into  the  water  !  And 
this  deed  you  dared  to  perpetrate  in  the  very  harbor  of 
Charleston,  within  a  few  yards  of  the  shore,  unblushingly, 
in  the  face  of  open  day.  Had  your  murderous  arm  been 
raised  against  your  equal,  whom  the  laws  of  self-defence  and 
the  more  efficacious  laws  of  the  land  unite  to  protect,  your 
crime  would  not  have  been  without  precedent  and  would 
have  seemed  less  horrid.  Your  personal  risk  would  at  least 
have  proved,  that  though  a  murderer  you  were  not  a  coward. 
But   you  too  well  knew  that  this  unfortunate  man,  whom 


*  It  is  not  a  little  singular  that  this  production  is  not  to  be  found  in  the 
newspapers  of  Charleston  of  the  time.  The  Author,  at  least,  after  a  diligent 
search,  failed  to  find  it,  or  any  allusion  to  it,  in  the  files  of  newspapers  in  the 
Charleston  Library.  It  was  found  by  Judge  O'Neall  in  the  "  Key  to  Uncle 
Tom's  Cabin,"  after  a  vain  search  elsewhere. 


HISTOKY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  511 

chance  liad  subjected  to  your  caprices^  had  not,  like  your- 
self, chartered  to  him  by  the  laws  of  the  land  the  same 
rights  of  natui-e ;  and  that  a  stern  but  necessary  policy  had 
disarmed  him  of  the  rights  of  self-defence.  Too  well  you 
knew  that  to  you  alone  he  could  look  for  protection,  and 
that  your  arm  alone  could  shield  him  from  oppression  or 
avenge  his  wrongs  ;  yet  that  arm  you  cruelly  stretched  out 
for  his  destruction. 

"  The  counsel  who  generously  volunteered  his  services  in 
your  behalf,  shocked  at  the  enormity  of  your  offence, 
endeavored  to  find  a  refuge,  as  well  for  his  own  feelings  as 
for  those  of  all  who  heard  your  trial,  in  a  derangement  of 
your  intellect.  Several  Avitnesses  were  examined  to  establish 
this  fact ;  but  the  result  of  their  testimony,  it  is  apprehended, 
was  as  little  satisfactory  to  his  mind  as  to  those  of  the  jury 
to  whom  it  was  addressed.  I  sincerely  wish  this  defence 
had  proved  successful ;  not  from  any  desire  to  save  you  from 
the  punishment  which  awaits  you,  and  which  you  so  richly 
merit,  but  from  the  desire  of  saving  my  country  from  the 
foul  reproach  of  having,  in  its  bosom,  so  great  a  monster. 

"  From  the  peculiar  situation  of  this  country,  our  fathers 
felt  themselves  justified  in  subjectmg  to  a  very  slight  punish- 
ment him  who  murders  a  slave.  Whether  the  present  state 
of  society  requires  a  continuation  of  this  policy,  so  opposite 
to  the  apparent  rights  of  humanity,  it  remains  for  a  subse- 
quent Legislature  to  decide.  Their  attention  ere  this  would 
have  been  directed  to  this  subject,  but,  for  the  honor  of 
human  nature,  such  hardened  sinners  as  yourself  are  rarely 
found  to  disturb  the  repose  of  society.  The  grand  jury  of 
this  county,  deeply  impressed  with  your  daring  outrages 
against  the  laws  of  both  God  and  man,  have  made  a  very 
strong  expression  of  their  feelings  on  the  subject  to  the 
Legislature,  and  from  the  wisdom  and  justice  of  that  body, 
the  friends  of  humanity  may  confidently  hope  to  see  this 
blackest  in  the  catalogue  of  human  crimes  pursued  by  appro- 
priate punishment.* 


*  Judge  O'Xeall  adds  the  following  note  (see  his  "  Bench  and  Bar  of  S.  C," 
vol.  i.  p.  104)  : — "  The  punishment  under  the  Act  of  1740,  §  38,  under  which 
Slater  was  convicted  and  sentenced,  was  a  fine  of  £700,  currency — equal  to  £100 
Bterling — which,  at  4*.  8cf.  to  the  dollar,   is  $428,  57-100 — and  incapacity  to 


512  HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

"  In  proceeding  to  pass  the  sentence  which  the  law  pro- 
vides for  your  offence,  I  confess  I  never  felt  more  forcibly 
the  want  of  power  to  make  respected  the  laws  of  my  country, 
whose  minister  I  am. 

"  You  have  already  violated  the  majesty  of  those  laws. 
You  have  properly  pleaded  the  local  law,  under  which  you 
stand  convicted,  as  a  justification  of  your  crime.  You  have 
held  that  law  in  one  hand  and  brandished  your  axe  in  the 
other,  impiously  contending  that  the  one  gave  a  licence  to 
the  unrestrained  use  of  the  other. 

"  But  though  you  will  go  off  unhurt  in  person,  by  the 
present  sentence,  expect  not  to  escape  with  impunity.  Your 
bloody  deed  has  set  a  mark  upon  you  which  I  fear  the  good 
actions  of  your  future  life  will  not  efface.  You  will  be  held 
in  abhorrence  by  an  impartial  world,  and  shunned  as  a  mon- 
ster by  every  honest  man.  Your  unoffending  posterity  will 
be  visited  for  your  iniquity,  by  the  stigma  of  deriving  their 
origin  from  an  unfeeling  murderer.  Your  days,  which  will 
be  but  few,  will  be  spent  in  wretchedness,  and  if  your  con- 
science be  not  steeled  against  every  virtuous  emotion — if  you 
be  not  entirely  abandoned  to  hardness  of  heart — the  mangled, 
mutilated  corpse  of  your  murdered  slave  will  ever  be  present 
in  your  imagination,  obtrude  itself  into  all  your  amusements, 
and  haunt  you  in  the  hours  of  silence  and  repose. 

"  But,  should  you  disregard  the  reproaches  of  an  offended 
world — should  you  hear  with  callous  insensibility  the  gnaw- 
ings  of  a  guilty  conscience — yet  remember  that  an  awful 
period  is  fast  approaching,  and  with  you  it  is  close  at  hand, 
when  you  must   appear  before    a   tribunal  whose  want    of 


enjoy  or  receive  the  profits  of  any  office,  place,  or  employment,  civil  or  military, 
and  if  unable  to  pay  this  fine,  then  imprisonment  for  seven  years.  The  Act  of 
1821  charged  this  trifling  punishment  for  what  Judge  Wilds  justly  called  '  the 
blackest  in  the  catalogue  of  human  crimes,'  to  death."  His  eloquent  tongue  had 
been  silent  in  death  nearly  eleven  years,  when  the  "  wisdom  and  justice  "  of  the 
Legislature  yielded  to  the  "  hopes  "  of  the  "  friends  of  humanity."  "  At  my 
instance,"  continues  the  judge,  "  my  friend  Daniel  Horlbeck,  Esq.,  caused  the 
records  to  be  examined,  to  ascertain  when  the  above  sentence  was  pronounced, 
and  strange  to  say,  nothing  can  be  found.  There  is  no  Sessions  docket  or  journal, 
until  1833,  now  extant.  No  indictment  against  Slater  can  be  found.  I  presume 
the  sentence  was  pronounced  in  1807."  This  is  confirmatory  of  the  fact  stated 
in  the  preceding  note,  that  the  sentence  was  not  published  in  the  city  papers  of 
the  time. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  513 

power  can  afford  you  no  prospect  of  impunity — avIicu  you 
must  raise  your  bloody  hands  at  the  bar  of  an  impartial, 
omniscient  Judge. 

"  Remember^  I  jiray  you  remember,  whilst  you  yet  have 
time,  that  God  is  just,  and  that  Ilis  vengeance  will  not 
sleep  for  ever/' 

An  occasion  like  this  called  forth  the  peculiar  powers  of 
Judge  Wilds,  touching,  as  it  did,  the  tenderest  sensibilities 
and  stirring  iip  the  emotional  depths  of  his  nature.  The 
sympatliies  of  the  man  were  not  swallowed  up  in  the  stern 
sense  of  duty  in  the  upright  judge.  It  was  here  that  he 
appeared  good  as  he  was  great. 

Another  prodnction,  and  the  last  of  those  emanating  from 
him  which  has  been  preserved,  though  it  seems  not  to  have 
attained  such  celebrity,  deservedly  takes  rank  with  the  sen- 
tence passed  on  Slater,  It  was  published  in  the  South 
Carolina  Gazette,  of  Wednesday,  May  3rd,  1809,  with  the 
following  remarks  prefixed^  viz.  : — 

"  Eloquent  and  Impressive. 
"  At  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  holden 
at  Union  Court  House,  in  March  Term  last,  before  the 
Honorable  Judge  Wilds,  John  Tollison  was  tried  and  found 
guilty  of  the  wilful  murder  of  John  Mathis  ;  and  when  the 
unhappy  criminal  was  brought  to  the  bar,  to  receive  the 
sentence  of  the  law,  the  following  eloquent  and  impressive 
address  was  delivered  by  the  judge.  The  serious  impression 
it  made  on  all  who  were  present, — the  faithful,  correct,  and 
forcible  view  it  exhibits  of  the  awful  and  terrific  situation  of 
the  wretch,  who,  abandoned  to  the  feelings  of  humanity, 
imbues  his  hand  in  the  blood  of  his  fellow-creature — induced 
the  members  of  the  Bar  attending  that  Court,  earnestly  to 
request  the  honorable  judge  to  commit  it  to  writing,  and 
favor  them  with  a  copy  ;  which  request  he  politely  complied 
with,  and  by  those  members  of  the  Bar  it  is  now  ofiered  to 
the  public  : — 

"  John  Tollison  : 

"The  duty  which  yet  remains  to   be  performed 
towards  you,  of  all  others  to  me  the  most  awful  and  distress - 

L    L 


514       HISTORY  OF  THE  OLD  CHE  RAWS. 

ing,  it  is  my  misfortune  to  be  obliged  to  perform  alone.  The 
laws  of  our  common  country  have  commissioned  me  to 
announce  to  you  your  doom  :  I  hold  your  death-warrant  in 
my  hand.  Death,  the  great  destroyer  of  man,  is  terrible 
even  in  its  mildest  forms ;  though  we  behold  its  destructive 
ravages  spread  wide  around  us— though  we  behold  the 
rich,  the  poor,  the  old,  the  young,  the  virtuous,  the  vicious, 
fall  indiscriminately  before  its  deadly  scythe,  and  feel  our 
own  fate  inevitable, — still  we  cannot  contemplate  its  frightful 
approaches,  but  with  the  most  fearful  apprehensions.  The 
awful  uncertainties  of  a  future  state,  the  untried  vicissitudes 
of  an  unknown  world,  whence  none  who  have  gone,  have 
ever  returned,  appal  the  strongest  hearts ;  and  like  cowards, 
we  groan  under  the  pressure  of  life's  many  ills,  fearful  to 
draw  aside  the  veil  which  hides  the  future  from  us.  But, 
though  death  be  always  dreadful,  it  is  not  always  equally  so. 
To  yield  our  lives  to  Him  who  gave  them  ;  to  wait  the  dread 
moment  on  our  beds  of  sickness,  surrounded  by  those  we 
love,  whose  affectionate  concern,  whose  sympathizing  tears, 
soften  the  anguish  of  expiring  nature — to  die  for  our  native 
land,  to  guard  its  honor  on  the  field  of  danger,  and  meet  the 
grim  tyrant  at  the  cannon's  mouth,  though  not  enough  to 
make  him  welcome,  robs  him  of  half  his  terrors.  But, 
unfortunately  for  you,  these  are  consolations  which  will  not 
support  you  in  your  approaching  doom.  The  life  which  God 
hath  given  you,  you  have  yourself  most  wickedly  destroyed — 
the  tender  love,  the  sympathetic  tear  which  would  have 
cleaved  to  your  departing  spirit,  and  winged  it  for  its  flight, 
you  have  banished  by  your  public  disgrace,  to  pine  in  hope- 
less solitude  over  your  untimely  fate ;  and  to  the  ofiFended 
justice  of  that  country,  for  whose  honor  to  have  died  would 
have  been  heroic,  you  fall  a  victim.  Hung  up  between  the 
heavens  and  the  earth, — heaven's  oldest,  gi-eatest  curse 
stamped  on  the  deed  you  have  done ;  no  friendly  voice  to  bid 
a  long  farewell;  no  friendly  hand  to  close  your  eyes  in 
death;  you  will  exhibit  an  awful,  but  instructive  spectacle 
to  the  world,  and  prove  that  the  arm  of  avenging  justice  is 
swift  to  overtake  him  who  sheds  a  brother's  blood. 

"  I  need  not  remind  you,  for  you  cannot  have  forgotten  the 
circumstances  which  led  to  this  fatal  catastrophe.    Your  hands 


HISTOIiy   OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  515 

yet  smoke  with  the  blood  of  murder,  and  Matliis's  new-made 
grave  makes  au  impressive  appeal  to  jour  memory.  Tliiuk 
not  to  find  a  palliation  for  your  offence  in  the  intoxication 
under  which  it  is  said  you  labored ;  nor  hope  to  extenuate 
its  horrors,  in  the  irritation  of  passion  which  you  endeavored 
to  establish.  Your  drunkenness  but  aggravates  yoiir  crime ; 
the  diabolical  fury  which  drove  you  on  to  perpetrate  this 
fatal  deed,  seems  not  to  have  had  any  exciting  cause ;  and  the 
insidious,  cowardly  manner  in  which  you  made  the  attack, 
the  deadly  weapon  which  you  wielded,  and  your  unmanly 
perseverance  in  inllictiug  the  deepest  injuries  on  an  adversary, 
who  had  not  made  the  slightest  resistance,  nay,  who  was 
even  unable  to  raise  his  hand  against  you,  argue  a  most 
savage  temperament  of  soul — a  heart  black  with  malevolence, 
and  more  than  ordinarily  depraved.  You  have  had  a  fair 
and  impartial  trial  by  juries  of  your  own  choice,  in  the 
selection  of  whom,  even  your  caprice  has  been  tenderly 
indulged :  you  have  had  the  benefit  of  able  counsel,  whose 
manly  address  to  the  understanding,  whose  eloquent  appeals 
to  the  heart,  must  have  saved  you,  if  even  a  doubt  of  your 
guilt  could  have  been  excited ;  but  alas  !  it  has  all  been  in 
vain ;  you  have  been  pronounced  guilty  of  the  horrid  crime 
of  murder,  for  which  you  die  unpitied. 

"  It  will  be  hardly  generous  to  remind  you,  for  it  can  now 
only  aggravate  your  distress,  of  the  many  strong  inducements 
which  you  had  to  a  different  conduct.  Living  in  a  land  of 
light  and  liberty,where  every  right  is  securely  protected^  every 
virtuous  exertion  liberally  rewarded, — in  the  vigor  of  health 
and  prime  of  manhood,  and  smTounded  by  all  the  means  of 
honest  enjoyment,  life  was  surely  worth  preserving.  You 
have,  but  my  heart  sickens  at  the  thought,  a  wife,  who  tenderly 
loves  you — you  are  a  father  of  children,  who  look  to  you  for 
bread ;  for  them  at  least  you  ought  to  have  lived.  Cruel, 
thoughtless  n^an,  what  have  you  done  ?  Besides  robbing  these 
objects,  justly  dear  to  your  heart,  of  their  only  protection  and 
support ;  besides  turning  them  on  a  wide  and  friendless  world, 
exposed  to  all  the  buffctings  of  scoff  and  adversity,  you  have 
unkindly  loaded  them  with  disgrace,  which,  though  they  do 
not  merit,  they  must  for  ever  feel. 

"  But,  if  the  laws   pf  your  country,  and   your   country's 

L  L  2 


516  HISTORY    OF    THE   OLD    CHERAWS. 

God  ;  if  the  love  of  life,  and  its  varied  enjoyments  ;  if  tlie 
distress  and  disgrace  of  a  family  you  love,  were  unable  to 
withhold  your  murderous  arm ;  yet,  believe  me,  when  I 
assure  you,  a  reason  yet  more  powerful  than  all,  ought  to 
have  made  you  pause !  You  have  an  immortal  soul  at 
stake,  and  have,  by  this  fatal  deed,  to  the  manifold  trans- 
gressions of  an  ill-spent  life,  added  a  mountain  of  guilt. 

"  Your  days  on  earth  are  now  numbered.  The  sword  of 
death,  which  hangs  uplifted  over  the  frail  thread  of  your 
existence,  ready  to  drop,  will  quickly  cut  it  in  twain,  and 
those  who  have  known  you,  will  know  you  no  more  !  But, 
though  you  feel  the  fatal  stroke,  hope  not  in  it  to  find  a 
termination  of  your  woes.  It  will  be  the  mere  prelude  to 
another  trial,  awfully  terrific.  Again  you  will  be  arraigned 
at  the  bar  of  justice,  and  the  black  record  of  a  thousand 
crimes  spread  in  your  view.  Again  you  must  raise  your 
trembling  hand,  but  before  a  Judge,  whose  penetrating  eye 
will  spy  the  secret  corners  of  your  soul,  whose  power  is 
fearful  indeed  !  Again  you  will  be  confronted  with  wit- 
nesses—and, horrible  thought,  the  bleeding,  murdered 
Mathis,  probably  dragged  from  the  howling  regions  of 
despair,  will  appear  in  the  number;  should  you  again  be 
found  guilty,  your  doom  will  be  interminable  woe  !  Let  me 
conjure  you  by  every  tie  which  yet  has  a  hold  upon  your 
heart,  to  devote  the  scanty  remnant  of  your  days  to  serious 
preparation  for  your  approaching  doom  \  Strive  importu- 
nately, I  beseech  you,  to  secure  that  Advocate,  whose 
merits  are  all  powerful,  whose  services  alone  can  save  you  ; 
for  in  the  exhaustless  fountain  of  redeeming  grace,  even  the 
foul  stain  of  murder  may  be  washed  clean  ! 

''  The  sentence  of  the  Court  is,  that  you  be  now  carried 
from  hence  to  the  place  from  whence  you  came,  and  that 
on  the  last  Friday  in  May  next,  between  the  hours  of  eleven 
in  the  forenoon  and  two  in  the  afternoon,  you  be  carried  to 
the  place  of  public  execution,  in  the  district  of  Union,  there 
to  be  hanged  by  the  neck  until  your  body  be  dead,  and 
may  the  Almighty  God  have  mercy  on  your  soul  !" 

The  end  of  a  brilliant  career  was  now  rapidly  approach- 
ing. It  is  needless  to  remark,  how  much  was  crowded  into 
a  life   not  more  brief  than  successful,  not  more  singularly 


HISTORY    OF   TIIP]    OLD    CnEHx\.WS.  517 

marked  by  its  rapid  rise  to  emiueuce,  than  tlie  inaiuicr  in 
which  the  highest  honors  thus  early  won  were  borne  !  It 
will  suffice  to  say^  that  no  man  was  ever  more  deservedly 
popular,  more  universally  beloved,  or  more  profoundly  re- 
gretted in  his  departure  from  earth  than  Samuel  Wilds. 

There  was,  as  we  must  conclude  from  tradition  and  con- 
temporary testimony,  a  charm  in  his  manner  and  co)aversa- 
tion — in  his  countenance,  his  words,  his  actions,  his  life — 
about  the  whole  man,  in  short,  which  has  seldom,  if  ever, 
had  a  counterpart  in  any  public  character.  • 

Taken  altogether,  judged  by  what  he  was  and  what  he  did, 
for  his  life  was  short — he  had  scarcely  completed  his  35  th 
year  when  death  overtook  him — it  may  well  be  questioned 
whether  his  native  State  has  ever  produced  a  better  or  a 
greater  man. 

His  last  Court  was  held  in  Charleston.  It  was  a  most 
laborious  session,  tasking  his  vigorous  powers  to  the  utter- 
most. The  work,  however,  was  faithfully  done,  seventeen 
hundi'ed  suits  having  been  disposed  of,  to  the  satisfaction  of 
every  party  interested.  To  the  last  a  brightcT  lustre  was 
being  added  to  his  name.  But,  his  race  was  finished  !  The 
first  intelligence  received  in  the  city  from  the  home  to 
which  he  had  returned  with  fond  anticipations,  was  the 
announcement  of  his  death.  The  blow  was  deeply  felt.  In 
all  parts  of  the  State  his  name  had  become  a  household 
word,  and  was  gratefully  and  admiringly  cherished.  Adapt- 
ing himself,  without  effort,  to  all  classes,  he  commanded  the 
love  and  the  homage  of  all.  In  Charleston,  the  seat  of 
intelligence  and  refinement,  where  he  won  every  heart  from 
the  first,  the  feeling  produced  by  the  tidings  of  his  sudden 
and  untimely  end,  was  intense,  and  the  public  manifesta- 
tions of  regard,  affecting  and  impressive.  In  the  country, 
meetings  were  also  held,  and  every  demonstration  of  respect 
and  sorrow  was  made  for  one  who  w^as,  in  truth,  a  universal 
favorite. 

Of  the  action  of  the  Charleston  Bar  on  this  melancholy 
occasion,  the  Courier  of  IMarch  21st,  1810,  contained  the 
following  notice  : — 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  Bar  in  Charles- 
ton,   convened   on   Monday  forenoon,   for    the    purpose    of 


518  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

expressing  their  respect  for  tlie  memory  of  the  Honorable 
Judge  Wildsj  recently  deceased,  Timothy  Ford,  Esq.,  was 
called  to  the  chair,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  frame 
resolutions,  expressive  of  the  object  of  the  meeting,  consist- 
ing of  the  following  gentlemen,  viz. : — The  Hon.  Langdon 
Cheves,  William  Loughton  Smith,  Esq.,  Keating  L.  Simons, 
Esq.,  and  Charles  Eraser,  Esq.,  who  reported  the  following 
resolutions,  which  were  unanimously  adopted,  viz.  : — '  The 
members  of  the  Bar  of  Charleston,  being  convened  on  the 
melancholy  occasion  of  the  death  of  the  Honorable  Samuel 
Wilds,  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and 
Sessions  of  this  State,  have  entered  unanimously  into  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  : — Whereas,  the  Bar  of  Charleston  have 
received  with  emotions  of  heart-felt  sorrow  the  mournfid  in- 
telligence of  the  death  of  Judge  Wilds,  and  deplore  this  sad 
event,  not  only  as  a  calamity  to  the  public,  who  are  thereby 
bereaved  of  an  able,  upright,  and  assiduous  minister  of  jus- 
tice, but  as  being  particularly  afflicting  to  themselves,  who 
were  personally  and  cordially  attached  to  him,  as  well  from 
a  high  sense  of  his  professional  merit,  as  on  account  of  his 
numerous  private  virtues,  and  of  an  uncommon  amiableness 
of  disposition  and  suavity  of  manners,  happily  blended  with 
the  dignity  of  deportment  suitable  to  his  high  station  : — 
Therefore,  resolved,  that  they  do,  in  testimony  of  their 
sentiments,  most  sincerely  entertained  by  them,  and  as  a 
tribute  of  affection  and  respect  for  his  memory,  wear  crape 
on  the  left  arm  one  month  from  the  date  of  this  resolution. 

"  '  Resolved,  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Flinn  be  requested  to 
deliver  a  sermon^  on  the  melancholy  occasion,  and  that  the 
members  of  the  Bar  do  attend  the  same."  " 

The  Carolina  Gazette  of  April  6th,  1810,  published  the 
following  proceedings  in  Sumpter  : — 

"  Sumpter  Court  House,  March  16th,  1810. 

"  The    gentlemen  of  the  Bar  at  Sumpter  Court,  having 

heard  of  the  death  of  the  Honorable  Judge  Wilds,  called  a 

meeting  of  the  members  present,  to  take  into  consideration 

in  what  manner  they  should  express  their  regret  for  his  loss, 


*  Mr.  Flhm  preached  au  admirable  discourse,  as  requested,  which  was  after- 
wards published. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    ClIERAWS.  519 

and  their  respect  for  his  memor3\  The  Honorable  Judge 
Brevard  was  pleased,  at  their  request,  to  attend  the  meeting, 
and  preside,  when  they  came  to  the  following  resolution  : — 
'  We,  the  members  of  the  Bar  of  South  Carolina,  convened 
at  Sumpter  Court  House,  deeply  impressed  with  the  loss  we 
have  sustained  in  the  death  of  the  Honorable  Judge  Wilds, 
deem  it  equally  a  privilege  and  a  duty  to  give  expression  to 
cm*  feelings  by  some  public  mark  of  the  respect  we  entertain 
for  his  memory  ;  to  mingle  our  tears  with  those  of  his 
family  and  relatives,  to  sympathize  with  his  friends,  and  to 
deplore,  with  our  fellow-citizens  at  large,  the  calamity  which 
has  befallen  the  State,  in  the  loss  of  one  of  its  greatest 
ornaments.  As  a  faint  emblem,  therefore,  of  the  tribute 
due  to  departed  merit,  we  do  hereby  resolve,  that  we  will 
testify  the  grief  which  we  feel  at  the  loss  of  a  man  so 
virtuous  and  beloved,  of  a  judge  so  able  and  so  distinguished 
in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office,  by  wearing  crape 
on  the  left  arm  until  after  the  next  sitting  of  the  Constitu- 
tional Court. 

"Abraham  Nott  J.  G.  Mathis 

John  S.  Richardson  Abraham  Blanding 

John  D.  Witherspoon  James  Ervin 

James  S.  Dees  John  B.  Miller 

R.  L.  Witherspoon  Thomas  R.  Mitchell 

James  Caldwell  James  G.  Spann." 

W^illiam  Grant 

The  Raleigh  Star,  of  INIarch  22nd,  1810,  contained  the 
following  truthful  and  touching  obituary  notice  : — 

"  Died,  at  his  seat  near  Cheraw  Court  House,  on  Friday, 
the  9th  of  March,  the  Honorable  Samuel  Wilds,  one  of  the 
Associate  Judges  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina.  In  this 
gentleman,  his  family,  his  friends,  and  his  State  have  sus- 
tained a  loss  which  will  be  as  deeply  regretted  as  it  is 
irreparable. 

"  He  seemed  formed  by  nature  to  conciliate  affection  and 
excite  admiration  ;  for  such  was  the  benevolent  sunshine  of 
his  countenance  and  the  fascination  of  his  manners,  that  to 
know  him  was  to  love  him  ;  and  such  was  the  strength  and 
disinterested    liberality  of  his   mind,  that  to  converse  with 


520  HISTORY   OF   THE    OLD   CHERAWS. 

liini  was  to  receive  edification  and  feel  the  admiration  due 
to  superior  intellect.  He  possessed  a  vis  vivida  animi,  a  rich- 
ness of  imagination^  which^  while  it  decked  with  eloquence 
Avhatever  it  touched^  displayed  with  better  energy  and  grace 
the  offspring  of  his  judgment.  His  progress  in  life  was 
proportioned  to  the  superiority  of  his  endowments.  Holding 
the  first  place  in  the  friendship  of  all  who  knew  him^  and 
the  idol  of  his  fellow-citizens,  he  rose  with  rapid  strides, 
though  still  in  his  youth,  to  the  first  honors  of  his  profes- 
sion. But,  inscrutable  are  the  ways  of  Providence.  He  was 
permitted  to  rise  like  the  sun,  enough  above  his  horizon  to 
give  anticipations  of  the  splendor  of  his  meridian  elevation, 
when  the  dark  cloud  of  death  passed  over  his  face,  and 
wrapt  him  for  ever  from  our  view.  But  he  lives,  and  long 
will  live  in  the  fond  and  disconsolate  affection  of  his  amiable 
consort  and  connexions,  in  the  admiration  of  his  friends, 
and  his  State  will  long  deplore  the  loss  of  the  most  pro- 
mising of  her  sons.""^ 

The  fullest  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  departed  jurist, 
who  was,  indeed,  one  of  the  noblest  of  men,  appeared 
in  the  Carolina  Gazette,  of  Charleston,  March  30,  1810. 
It  will  aptly  close  the  brief  sketch  of  his  life  which  has 
been  given. 

"  Sic  transit  gloria  muncli." 

"  Died,  on  Friday,  the  9th  inst.,  after  a  short  and  violent 
illness,"^  the  Honorable  Samuel  Wilds,  one  of  the  Judges  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  Sessions  of  this  State ; 
within  a  few  hours  of  the  day  which  would  have  completed 
his  thirty-fifth  year.  The  death  of  this  amiable  gentleman 
and  excellent  citizen,  was  as  unexpected  and  afflicting,  as 
his  elevation  to  public  esteem  and  distinction,  had  been 
rapid,  brilliant  and  well  merited.  Some  account  of  the  rise 
and  progress  of  a  man,  so  deservedly  esteemed  and  generally 
lamented,  cannot  but  be  acceptable  to  the  community  he  hath 
so  well  served,  and  particularly  to  the  inhabitants  of  this 
city,  who  have  been  so  recently  benefitted  by  the  able  and 
assiduous  discharge  of  his  public  functions,  as  a  minister  of 
justice. 

*  The  disease  was  pneumonia. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  521 

"  He  was  born  in  jNIarlborougli.  District,  in  this  State,  of 
parents,  who  were  of  Welch  extraction ;  and  was  the  ehlcst 
of  a  numerous  family  of  young  children,  whom  his  father 
left,  at  a  tempestuous  season,  to  the  care  of  a  fond  and 
exemplary  mother,  with  little  other  inheritance  than  his  own 
honest  fame;  with  scarce  other  bequest  than  a  parent's 
blessing  !  But  these  were  enough  for  the  lamented  subject 
of  our  remarks.  A  shrewd,  sagacious  boy, — a  docile, 
obedient  child — ere  long  he  began  to  divide  with  his  mother, 
the  cares  of  her  family,  and  by  a  degree  of  diligence  and 
good  management,  seldom  found  in  one  of  his  age,  he  con- 
tinued to  regulate  the  affairs  of  their  narrow  fortune,  so  as 
to  lessen  the  toils  of  his  surviving  parent,  and  to  augment 
the  sum  of  her  comforts.  Yet,  he  was  not  contented.  'The 
young  idea  beginning  now  to  shoot,'  his  ardent  mind  parched 
with  the  thirst  of  knowledge.  Alas,  his  parent  had  not 
withal  to  sustain  its  appetite.  Too  kind,  however,  not  to 
sympathize,  too  generoiis  not  to  fan  its  noble  flame,  her 
maternal  love,  by  dint  of  frugality  and  privation,  found  the 
means  of  gratifying  the  longings  of  her  darling  boy.  He 
was  placed  by  her  at  the  St.  David's  School,  in  Cheraws, 
under  the  tuition  of  Mr.  Park,  a  learned  and  respectable 
gentleman,  now  one  of  the  Professors  at  the  College  at 
Columbia.  His  aspiring  and  teeming  genius  at  once  carried 
him  ahead  of  all  his  young  companions,  in  so  great  and 
rapid  a  proficiency,  in  all  the  branches  of  his  studies,  that 
he  was  soon,  under  the  liberal  patronage  of  his  preceptor, 
promoted,  with  the  allowance  of  a  small  salary,  to  the  place 
of  an  assistant  teacher.  An  incident  here  occurred,  of  which 
he  ever  spoke  to  his  friends  with  delight.  It  was  his  lot  to 
educate  the  lady  who  afterwards  became  his  wife,  and  to 
whom,  during  a  happy  union  of  near  twelve  years,  it  may  be 
truly  said,  he  never  gave  '  a  pang,  but  when  he  died.'  Thus 
advanced,  his  pittant  salary  glowed  like  a  mine  in  his  eyes. 
It  now  afforded  him  the  means  for  which  he  had  often  sighed, 
of  opening  the  spring  from  whence  he  had  tasted,  with  so 
much  pleasure,  to  an  only  and  beloved  brother,  a  boy  of 
promising  parts.  John  Wilds  was  accordingly  put  to  school 
by  his  brother.  Some  time  afterwards,  the  latter  succeeded 
to  Mr.  Park,  as  principal  teacher.      His  mind,  now  expanding 


522  IIISTOKY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

as  he  advanced  in  years^  began  to  explore  the  path  he 
was  to  tread  in  his  walk  through  life.  Endowed  with  an 
iincoramon  share  of  sagacity,  with  a  sound  judgment,  a  quick 
discrimination,  and  a  large  fund  of  native  elocution,  he 
selected  the  profession  of  the  law,  as  the  best  theatre  for  his 
talents,  and  as  presenting  the  readiest  course,  under  the 
genius  of  our  government,  for  his  rise  to  distinction. 

"  He  accordingly  entered  on  the  study  of  the  law,  with  the 
late  Wm.  Falconer,  Esq.  Still  more  the  favorite  of  genius 
than  of  fortune,  he  was  not  enabled  to  devote  his  time  and 
thoughts  entirely  to  the  study  of  his  profession,  but  Avas 
obliged  to  divide  them  between  that  and  the  economy  of  the 
little  patrimony  which  sustained  his  mother  and  sisters,  and 
the  duties  of  a  place  in  the  sherifF^s  office  of  the  district  of 
his  residence,  from  whence  he  derived  a  maintenance  for 
himself  and  his  brother.  The  time  at  length  arrived  for  his 
entering  upon  the  career  which  he  hath  run  with  so  much 
honor  to  himself  and  usefulness  to  his  country. 

"  He  was  called  to  the  Bar  in  the  spring  of  ^98.  It  is 
needless  to  state  that  he  was,  immediately  after  his  admis- 
sion to  the  Bar,  engaged  in  every  cause  of  importance  in  the 
districts  adjacent  to  the  place  of  his  nativity.  He  had  been 
so  long  and  so  much  a  favorite  in  these,  that  this  circum- 
stance affords  no  test  of  his  professional  merit.  In  the 
remote  districts  of  his  practice,  he  quickly  ranked  among 
the  most  eminent  in  his  profession ;  and  by  the  unaffected 
simplicity  of  his  manners,  and  the  native  amiableness  of  his 
disposition,  became  in  them  as  much  beloved  as  among  his 
own  neighbours. 

"  His  first  and  most  earnest  wish  now,  was  to  establish  and 
bring  forward  his  brother.  The  latter  being  inclined  to  the 
study  of  physic,  was,  after  having  received  the  rudiments  of 
his  profession  from  Dr.  Hawes,  a  gentleman  of  science 
resident  in  his  neighbourhood,  and  a  finend  to  the  family, 
sent  by  his  brother  to  Newport,  in  Rhode  Island,  to  com- 
plete his  professional  education,  under  the  late  Dr.  Seuter, 
and  was  also  supplied  by  him  with  the  means  of  occasionally 
attending  the  lectures  of  Dr.  Rush,  at  Philadelphia.  Having 
finished  his  studies,  he  returned  home,  and  commenced  the 
practice   of  physic.      The   fondest  wishes   of  his  brother's 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS.  523 

heart  were  now  about  to  be  consummated.  This  promis- 
ing plants  cultivated  with  so  much  labor  and  anxiety,  put 
forth  its  tender  buds, — fair  to  the  eye  ;  but  there  came  '  a 
frost,  a  killing  frost/  that  nipt  it  in  the  flower.  The 
amiable  subject  of  our  notice  derived  consolation  fi'om  pre- 
serving his  memory  in  honorable  recollection. 

"  Having  unavoidably  incurred  some  debts  in  beginning 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  which  he  had  done  on  the 
faith  of  the  brightest  prospects,  now  closed  in  the  grave  too 
soon  for  the  pei'formaiice  of  his  engageraeuts,  it  was  felt  by 
his  brother  as  a  sacred  duty,  to  see  them  discharged  ;  and 
this  he  did  in  the  spirit  with  which  he  accomplished  all  his 
duties.  This  rude  shock,  Avhich  closed  for  ever  the  channel 
wherein  the  benevolence  of  him  who  is  our  theme  had 
delighted  to  flow,  did  not,  however,  dry  up  or  impoverish  its 
abundant  source.  It  became,  as  soon  as  his  pecuniary 
resources  would  admit,  a  maxim  with  him,  to  which  he 
strictly  conformed  in  practice,  always  to  have  flourishing 
under  the  genial  warmth  of  his  bounty  and  patronage, 
some  tender  shoot  of  genius  that  had  been  exposed  to 
the  frost  of  poverty. 

"  Honored  by  the  virtuou.s,  and  blessed  by  the  poor,  he  still 
pursued  the  track  of  his  bright  destinies.  In  the  autumn 
of  1800,  he  was  unanimously  elected  a  member  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  Legislature  of  this  State,  from  the 
district  of  Darlington. 

"  Unbending,  yet  liberal  in  his  public  principles,  it  was  his 
uncommon  felicity  to  be  cherished  with  pride  and  delight 
by  his  own  party,  at  the  same  time  that  he  enjoyed  the 
general  esteem  and  confidence,  and  in  numerous  instances, 
the  cordial  affections  of  his  political  opponents. 

"  Under  such  circumstances,  it  could  not  be  long  ere  his 
influence  would  become  important  and  distinguished  in  the 
body  of  which  he  was  a  member.  He  accordingly  enjoyed 
this  distinction,  not  only  with  the  consciousness  of  deserving 
it,  but  the  heartfelt  satisfaction  of  knowing,  that  the  sense 
of  this  merit  was  a  universal  sentiment.  This  honorable 
height  he  reached,  as  wxU  by  an  instinctive  repugnance  to 
all  the  bubbling  de\aces  of  popular  intrigue,  as  by  the  noble 
independence  of  his  character,,  the  abundant  resources  of  his 


524  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

mind,  and  an  upriglit_,  direct,  manly  pursuit  of  the  measures 
he  believed  to  be  connected  with  the  public  advantage ; 
which  held  out  to  all  that  marked  his  course, '  the  assurance 
of  a  man/  bent  only  on  the  welfare  of  the  State. 

"  In  aid  of  those  excellent  qualities,  and  so  estimable  a 
character,  were  a  frankness  of  mind,  without  the  least  mix- 
ture of  guile — an  openness  of  heart,  without  the  slightest 
tincture  of  bitterness  or  acrimony — a  fascinating  playful- 
ness of  temper,  that  banished  all  semblance  of  harshness  or 
austerity,  and  a  presence  beaming  with  the  most  happy 
mixture  of  benignity  and  sense- — while  withal,  he  carried 
himself  with  so  modest  a  port,  and  with  so  much  native, 
unassumed  dignity,  that  he  was  wont,  at  the  first  introduc- 
tion, to  seize  upon  the  esteem  and  regards  of  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  bind  them  to  him  with  a  gordian  knot. 

"  Indeed,  such  was  the  unaffected  simplicity  of  his  manner 
and  lively  '  sunshine"  of  his  countenance,  that  he  could,  at 
the  same  moment,  win  the  esteem  of  hoary  age  and  draw 
lisping  infancy  to  his  bosom. 

"  Nor  shall  it  be  forgotten,  that  his  eloquence,  like  the 
herald  of  the  morn,  precursed  his  race  to  the  bright  meridian 
of  his  public  honors.  His  eloquence  owed  much  to  nature  j 
as  much  to  the  care  with  which  he  cultivated  it.  Ready, 
perspicuous,  manly,  and  flowing,  its  general  type  partook  of 
the  amiableness  of  his  disposition,  being  inclined,  '  by 
winning  words  to  conquer  willing  hearts" — although  it  was 
susceptible,  when  he  pleased,  of  a  degree  of  elevation  and 
energy,  that  stamped  on  it  the  features  of  a  commanding 
character. 

"  It  shone  most  in  a  chaste  and  nervous  expression  of 
sentiment,  imbibing  nourishment  rather  from  the  passions 
than  the  fancy,  and  delighting  more  in  the  glowing  regions 
of  the  heart,  than  the  serene  fields  of  the  imagination; 
though  even  hence  it  were  wont  to  inhale  many  a  fragrant 
breath,  and  to  weave  many  a  graceful  wreath.  It  was, 
however,  only  the  dress  and  ornament  to  his  masculine 
reason.  Endowed  with  a  vigorous  and  ample  understand- 
ing, which  had  surmounted  every  diflSculty  in  its  way,  and 
profited  by  every  occasion  of  enriching  itself  with  precious 
lore — and  being  no  less  delighted  with    the   fruit    of  logic. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  525 

than  charmed  with  tlic  tlowcrs  of  rhetoric — lie  exliibitcd  in 
discursive  power,  a  degree  of  strength  and  solidity,  that 
was  unrivalled  by  the  flight  of  his  elocution. 

"  His  mind  always  embraced  a  clear  and  comprehensive 
view  of  his  subject,  and  his  ratiocination  was  generally  con- 
ducted from  cause  to  consequence,  by  a  beautiful  and 
regular  concatenation,  though  sometimes,  it  must  be  owned, 
its  method  was  disturbed  by  an  overruling  bias  to  decla- 
mation— the  eloquence  of  which,  however,  never  failed  to 
atone  for  his  transgression  of  order.  His  moral  excellences 
are  sufficiently  portrayed  in  tlie  traits  that  have  been  given 
already  of  his  character.  The  sentiments  of  filial  piety  and 
afl'ection  (it  shall  still  be  remarked),  could  but  have  deep 
root^  in  a  heart  of  so  soft  and  generous  a  mould.  One 
habit,  which  was  fixed  Avith  him,  will  suffice  to  show  this. 
It  was  his  custom,  ever,  on  returning  home  from  a  jouruev, 
especially  after  he  had  risen  to  distinction,  at  whatever 
hour  of  day  or  night  it  happened,  immediately  to  visit  his 
mother,  who  resided  at  a  short  distance  from  his  own  dwel- 
ling, that  he  might  taste  the  joy  his  dutiful  and  affectionate 
demeanor  was  wont  to  kindle  in  her  aged  bosom,  and  feast 
his  soul  with  a  parent's  blessing. 

"  Possessed  of  the  qualities  of  mind  above  noticed,  it  would 
seem  that  a  popular  assembly  had  been  a  better  theatre  for 
his  talents  than  the  solemn  bench  of  justice,  and  that  they 
would  have  been  attracted  to  the  national  councils  as  their 
most  suitable  sphere  of  action ;  but  his  destiny  ruled  other- 
wise. 

"  After  having  sein'cd  for  two  years  as  Solicitor  of  the 
Northern  Circuit,  to  which  post  he  was  almost  unanimously 
elected,  in  December,  1802,  and  faithfully  discharged  ths 
duties  thereof — in  fulfilling  which  he  combined  the  softest 
feelings  of  humanity  with  an  inflexible  adherence  to  the 
claims  of  public  duty — he  was,  in  the  year  1804,  elected  a 
judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  Sessions  of  this 
State. 

''  Seated  now  on  a  noble  eminence,  his  mind  seemed  tc 
grow  to  the  prospects  around  him,  and  although  the  cast  of 
it  may  have  appeared  better  adapted  to  another,  but  no  less 
distinguished  part,  it  was,  nevertheless,  here  that  it  displayed 


526  HISTORY  or  the  old  cheraws. 

its  highest  energies.  How  well  he  discharged  the  duties  of 
this  important  station,  may  be  seen  in  the  records  of  our 
Courts,  and  will  be  read  hereafter,  in  the  juridical  history 
of  our  State.  How  happily  he  performed  them,  may  be  read 
now  in  the  sorrowful  countenances  of  his  brethren  of  the  pro- 
fession, in  the  effusions  of  their  grief,  and  in  the  public  honor 
they  have  conferred  on  his  memory. 

"  It  seemed,  indeed,  the  pleasure  of  Providence,  that  this 
favored  genius  should  mount  to  the  skies^  clothed  in  the 
radiance  of  a  star. 

" '  Within  a  month,  a  little  month,^  after  having  accom- 
plished important  services  for  the  State,  as  a  minister  of 
justice  ;  after  having  displayed  the  powers  of  his  mind,  and 
the  resources  and  readiness  of  his  learning,  during  a  long 
and  laborious  term,  in  examining  and  determining,  with  the 
soundest  judgment  and  most  accurate  discrimination,  the 
multifarious  topics  springing  out  of  seventeen  hundred  suits, 
in  which,  though  many  were  not  litigated,  many  were,  and 
some  involving  questions  of  a  complicated  and  difficult 
nature  ;  after  having  sealed  his  labors  with  the  affectionate 
adieus  of  his  fellow-laborers,  while  yet  on  every  tongue  the 
living  theme  of  praise,  his  soul  rushed  from  its  abode  of  clay, 
and  sought  its  native  heaven. 

"  Oh,  where  is  now  the  light  of  those  eyes  that  beamed 
with  so  lovely  a  lustre  ?  Where  that  benignant  smile  ? 
Where  the  '  sunshine '  of  soul  that  for  ever  played  on 
that  manly  face  ?  Cease  weeping,  folly  ! — they  have  fled 
with  his  spirit  from  the  circles  of  men  to  the  spheres  of 
angels. 

"  Yet  it  were  allowable  to  shed  on  their  departure  some 
natural  drops.  Their  image  yet  lives  with  us  :  it  is  engraven 
on  the  hearts  of  his  numerous  acquaintance ;  it  is  embalmed 
in  the  tears  of  his  mourning  friends  and  relatives.^^* 

To  this  touching  record  of  departed  worth,  watered  with 
the  teai's  of  him  from  whom  it  emanated,  may  be  added  the 


*  This  tribute  of  affection  was  doubtless  from  tlie  pen  of  that  noble  man 
and  distinguished  lawyer,  Keating  L.  Simons,  Esq.,  of  Charleston,  between 
whom  and  Judge  Wilds  the  truest  sympathy  and  most  cordial  and  endearing 
friendship  existed. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CIIERAWS.  527 

eflfusion  of  another,^  who  born  and  reared  in  the  same 
region  with  Judge  Wilds,  and  probably  his  pupil  in  St. 
David's^  knew  and  loved  him  in  his  earlier  years,  and  now 
joined,  with  all  the  generous  ardor  of  his  nature,  in  the 
general  grief  over  his  untimely  end  ! 

"FOR  THE  COURIEE. 

"  Lines  occasioned  hy  the  lamented  death  of  the  Hon.  Judge  Wilds. 

"  Come,  grief,  with  thy  funereal  train, 
'i'hy  heart-afflicting  sigh. 
And  pity's  elegiac  strain. 

And  sorrow's  swollen  eye. 
Cease  pleasure's  g:iy,  deceitful  sound, 
Our  brows  with  cypress  leaves  be  bound. 
As  bonding  sad  o'er  virtue's  bier. 
We  wake  the  plaiuiive  song,  and  shed  the  sorrowing  tear. 

"  With  ceaseless  hate,  terrific  foe. 
Death  wields  his  vengeful  arm; 
He  lays  the  pride  of  valor  low. 

And  rifles  beauty's  charm.  w 

Yet  why,  insat'ate  tyrant,  why 
A  mark  so  noble  and  so  high. 
To  strike  with  vent'rous  arrow  dare. 
And  folly's  giddy  tribe  with  cruel  fondness  spare  ? 

"  Virtue  in  vain  her  boast  would  save. 
And  shield  her  favorite  son  ; 
Alas,  he  sinks  iuto  the  grave. 

Heaven's  holy  will  be  done  ! 
The  wreath  that  learning  had  prepared. 
The  patriot's  brightest,  best  reward, 
Torn  from  his  living  brow,  shall  bloom 
A  laurel  ever  green  around  his  grassy  tomb. 

"  Though  here  his  silent  relics  sleep. 
Cold  in  the  chill  embrace  of  earth. 
His  early  fate  sh  ill  genius  weep. 

And  justice  tell  his  worth. 
Where  shall  his  mourning  country  find 
So  good  a  heart,  so  strong  a  mind  ? 
A  life  so  pure,  such  honorable  fame. 
As  that  which  shed  its  beams  'round  Wilds'  modest  name  ? 

"  Ah  !  why  in  quest  of  classic  lore. 
Does  wisdom  idly  toil ; 
The  flow'ret  scarcely  blooms,  before 

It  withers  in  the  soil. 
Yet  still  its  fragrance  shall  survive. 
And  still  the  fame  of  genius  live. 
While  fond  remembrance  on  her  grateful  breast. 
Its  various  worth  records  with  deathless  force  imprest. 


Supposed  to  be  John  Lide  AVilson,  then  in  his  twenty-sixth  year. 


528  HISTORY    OF    THE    OLD    CHERAWS. 

"  There  still  his  voice  shall  charm  the  ear. 

And  still  in  memory's  tearful  eye 

His  form  shall  to  his  friends  appear. 

And  wake  the  mournful  sigh. 
From  earth  removed,  his  manly  soul. 
Far,  far  ahove  the  earth's  control. 
On  seraph's  wings  to  heaven  has  flown, 
And  joys  in  virtue's  meed,  religion's  sacred  crown  ! 


March  I7th,  1810." 


INDEX. 


Adams,  among  settlers  on  Pedee,  99 
Allison,  Kev.  Mr.,  notice  of,  69 

,,       Dr.  Robert,  elected  Slieriff  for  Marlborough,  460 
Allston,  Peter,  settles  on  Pedee,  105;   his  removal,   106 

,,       Peter,  Representative  for  St.  David's,  416 
Ammons,  Joshua,  notice  of,  and  meeting  with  Lafayette,  402-403,  and  note 
Andrews,  John,  Adjutaut  under  Kolb,  301 
Assembly,  Commons  House  of,  elects  deputies  to  Congress,  206 

,,  General,  under  new  form  of  government,  convened,  258 

,i  Address  of  Speaker  of  House  and  Council  to  President,  258 

,,  Summoned  to  meet  in  Charles-town,  274 

,,  "Vacancies  in,  for  St.  David's  tilled,  275 

,,  prescribes  Oath,  its  effects,  original  certificate  of,  287-288 

Auld,  John  and  Michael,  pursuit  of  Tories,  330 
Ayer,  Thomas,  settles  on  Pedee,  his  family,  93  and  note 

,,  ,,  reply  when  asked  to  take  oatli  of  allegiance,  305 

,,  ,,  reward  offered  for  by  M 'Arthur,  309 

,,  ,,  capture  of,  and  escape,  309-311 

,,     Lewis    Maloue's    nari-ative  of  Kolb's  death,   and  of  pursuit  by  Tories, 

362-368 
,,  ,,  removal  to  Barnwell,  and  death,  93,  note 

Bacot,  Samuel,  settles  on  Pedee,  origin,  and  family,  105-106 
,,  ,,  adventure  with  Tories,  327-328 

„  ,,  imprisonment  and  escape,  328-329,  and  note 

Baker,  notice  of  family,  75 

,,     Captain,  of  Georgia,  skirmish  with  Tories,  386  .f, 

ar  of  Cheraws,  204  ;   Lawyers  at,  436 
Bartield,  noted  Tories  of  the  name,  337 

,,  Major,  account  of,  and  his  perfidy,  338 

,,         fight  with  Murphy  at  bass's,  372-373 
notices  of,  334,  337-338 
Baxter,  James,  settles  on  Poke  Swamp,  79 
,,         Colonel  John,  distinguished,  79  ;  Representative  for  Liberty,  455 
,,         one  of  the  name  hangs  a  Tory,  3S6 

,,         Robert,  Representative  for  St.  David's,  445  ;   his  death,  451 
Bedgegood,  Rev.  Nicholas,  notice  of,  and  family,  96  and  note,  97 

„  ,,  preaches  Sessions  sermons  at  Long  BlafF,  196 

,,  ,,  extract  from  his  journal,  96,  noie 

Benton,  Lemuel,  settles  on  Pedee,  marriage,  his  family,  104 
a  JNJajor  in  command  on  Pedee,  352 
with  Kolb  after  Tories  on  Cat  Fish,  359 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  371 

his  regiment  allotted  to  Marion's  Brigade,  377 
on  Black  Creek,  .skirmish  of  his  force  with  Tories,  386 
another  skirmish  on  Black  Creek,  387 
writes  to  Governor  Matthews,  388-389 

a  M 


530  INDEX. 

Benton,  Lemuel,  writes  to  General  Marion,  390-391,  391-39^ 

,,         ,,  opposed  successively  by  Mr.  Wilson  and  General  Huger  for 

Congress,  401 
,,         „  Eepresentative  for  St.  David's,  415,  432,  445 

,,         ,,  CouTity  Court  Justice  for  Darlington  County,  433,  452 

,,  ,,  E>cheator  for  Cheraws,  446 

jj         ,,  delegate  to  Convention  in  Charleston,  447 

,,         ,,  ji         M         »         »     Columbia,  451 

„         „  Sheriff  for  Cheraws,  451,  453 

,,  ,,  in  Congress,  and  difficulty  with  Major  Thomas,  455-456 

,j         ,,  resigns  commission  as  colonel,  456 

,,         „  traits  of  character,  371  ;   sketch  of,  and  death,  401 

Eethsa,  William,  settles  on  Little  Pedee,  his  family,  86 
,,  ,,  attacked  by  Tories  for  his  money,  394 

,,       John,  sen.,  and  jun.,  after  Tories,  393 
,,  ,,  punishes  Snowden,  a  Tory,  394 

,,       Philip,  Representative  for  Liberty,  461 
Blackman,  a  Tory,  punished  by  Colonel  Murphy,  354 
Black  Creek,  Acts  to  improve  navigation  of,  and  commissioners,  446,  453 
Blakeney,  John,  settles  on  Lynche's  Creek,  his  family,   100 
„  „     family  of,  suffer  from  Tories,  383-384 

„         Mrs.  Mary,  notice  of,  384,  note 

„         James,  Eepresentative  for  Chesterfield  County,  456,  459 
Boundary  line  between  North  and  South  Carolina,  37-41,  469 
Botsford,  Rev.  Edmond,  notice  of,  bis  marriage,  88,  note 

J,  „  removes  his  family  to  Virginia,  439-440 

Braddock's  defeat,  followed  by  removals  to  Pedee,  92 
Bradley,  a  Tory,  taken  and  killed  by  Colonel  M'Kee,  394 
Brawler,  Jacob,  unequalled  gift  to  his  country,  403-404,  and  note. 
Brevard,  Joseph,  at  Cheraw  Bar,  436 
Brigman,  a  Tory,  killed  by  Daniel  Hicks,  385 
Brockington,  Richard,  his  settlement  and  family,  90 
,,         Mrs.  Mary,  90,  note 

„         Richard,  Representative  for  Darlington,  456 
Brown,  Rev.  John,  comes  to  Pedee,  notice  of,  64 
,,     Colonel  Thomas,  ordered  to  Pedee,  333 

,,  „  writes  to  General  Harrington,  333,  334,  337-338 

,,  John,  County  Court  Justice  for  Chesterfield,  451 
,,  Morgan,  Representative  for  St.  David's,  432,  445 
,,  ,,         Senator  for  St.  David's,  448 

,,  ,,  County  Court  Justice  for  Marlborough,  433,  452 

,,j,        ,,         delegate  to  Convention  in  Columbia,  451 
Brownfield,  Doctor  Robert,  delegate  to  Convention  in  Charleston,  447 

J,  „  Representative  for  St.  David's  447,  448 

Bryan,  Colonel,  a  Loyalist,  notice  of,  314 
Buckholdts,  Jacob,  mention  of,  family,  54,  and  note 
,,  Creek,  76 

„  Abraham,  Major  of  Cheraws  Regiment,  226 

Bull  Pen,  notice  of,    361-362,  364,   371 
Bullard,  Joel,  Sheriff  for  Chesterfield,  460 

Butler,  Jef.,  Tory  Captain,  notice  of,  adventure  with  Whigs,  395-396      . 
„       „     protected  by  Marion,  395 

Campbell,  Captain,  settles  on  Pedee,  441 

,,  ,,        his  sons,  Robert  and  John,  notice  of,  441 

Cannon,  Henry,  Representative  for  St.  David's,  448 

,,  ,,         County  Court  Justice  for  Darlington,  451 

Cantey,  Josiah,  adventure  with  Tories,  wounded,  359 
Carlos,  Robeson,  settles  on  Pedee,  443 
Cashway,  origin  of  name,  7S,  7iote 
Caswell,  General,  writes  to  General  Harrington,  309 
Cat  Fish  creek.  Act  to  improve  na^vi^ation  of,  and  commissioners,  453 


INDEX.  00 1 

Caucasian  race,  progressive,  io8 
Caulkiiis,  at  Cheraws  Bar,  436 
Chapman,  Allen,  settles  in  Chesterfield,  442 
,,  ,,       Sheriff  of  Cheraws,  431 

,,  John,  settles  in  Chesterfield,  441 

Charge  of  Judge  Drayton,  2 1 1  -2 1 5 
,,      of  Judge  Grimke,  416-429 
,,     of  Judge  Wilds,  502-509 
Charleston  exposed  to  attack  by  sea,  251 

„  siege  of,  incidents  of,  effects  on  State,  295 

,,  fall  of,  effects,  and  incidents,  302 

Charles- town,  evacuation  of,  392 
Chatham,  when  and  why  so  called,  119,  179  ;  origin  and  history  of,  as  name 

of  town,  463-465 
Cheraw  settled,  town  laid  out  by  Kershaw,  118,  119 
,,       when  and  why  called  Chatham,  119,  179 
,,       commissions  for  erecting  Court  House,  &c.,  185 
„      petition  and  counter-petition,  as  to  location,  and  action  of  assembly, 

185-192 
j>       progress  of  buildings  at  Long  Bluflf,  194 
,,       regiment,  officers  of,   135 
„       officers  elected  by  Provincial  Congress,  236 
,,       Stockade  Fort  at,  history  of,  240-244 
,,      prisoners  sent  to  gaol  of,  174 
,,       sickness  of  British  soldiers  there,  319,  320 
„       Circuit  Court  for,  continues  to  sit  at  Long  Bluff,  436 
,,      district,  population  of,  454,  465 
,,      town  of,  its  history,  463-465 
Cheraws,  judicial  district,  bounds  of,  185 
Cherrey,  George,  settles  on  Cat  Fish,  loi 
Chesterfield  County,  boundaries  of,  433 

,,  ,,        after  whom  named,  436 

,,  „        site  of  Court  House,  434 

„  „        Courts,  when  to  be  holden,  434 

„  „        County  Court,  justices  for,  433,  446,  451,  452,  455 

„  ,,        presentment  of  grand  jury  for,  435 

},  „        representatives  elected  for,  454,  456,  457,  458,  459,  460 

,,  ,,        dividing  line  with  Darlington  run,  461 

Circuit  Court  continues  to  sit  at  Long  Bluff,  436 
Circulating  medium,  petition  for,  447,  448  ;  time  extended,  455 
Civil  affairs,  derangement  of,  373 

,,  ,,      Marion  writes  to  Governor  Matthews  about,  373,  374 

Clary,  Daniel,  estate  confiscated,  380 
Clinton,  Sir  Henry,  writes  to  Honorable  Geo.  Gervain,  306 

„  „  goes  to  the  North,  307 

Colt,  William,  a  settler,  79 
Colson,  Abraham,  early  settler,  79 

Commerce,  state  of,  in  province,  121  ;  revived  in  1776,  278 
Commissary  receipts  for  provisions  furnished  during  war,    298,   301  note,   347 

note,  371  notes 
Confiscation  of  estates  to  be  made,  378 

,,  Mrs.  Steward  petitions  in  behalf  of  her  husband,  and  result,  378, 

379  ;  notice  of  by  Royal  Gazette,  380 
,,  Mrs.  Mitchell  petitions  for  husband,  415,416 

Convention  in  Charleston  to  ratify  Federal  Constitution,  447 
„  ,,  election  for,  where  held,  447  note 

,,  ,,  delegates  from  St.  David's,  their  votes,  447 

,,  in  Columbia  for  State  Constitution,  delegates  from  St.  David's,  and 

their  votes,  450,  451 
Comwallis,  Lord,  succeeds  Sir  H.  Clinton,  307 
,,  ,,     disposition  of  troops,  307 

„  ,,     writes  Sir  H.  Clinton,  308,  314,  315 

M   M   2 


532  INDEX. 

Cornwallis,  Lord,  account  of  failure  of  expedition  on  river,  317,  318 
,,  ,,     his  prospects  in  Carolinas,  319 

,,  ,,     writes  Honorable  Geo.  Gervain  of  Gates's  advance,  323,  374 

,,  ,,     account  of  opening  of  battle  of  Camden,  324 

,,  „     writes  Sir  H.  Clinton  of  spirit  of  revolt  in  State,  345 

,,  ,,     feelings  and  prospects,  345-346 

,,  „     writes  Tatleton  about  Green,  349,  350 

,,  ,,     cartel  with  Green  for  exchange  of  prisoners,  367 

,,  „     declining  fortunes,  retreat  to  Wilmington,  368 

„  ,,     account  of  his  embarrassed  situation,  369 

,,  ,,     writes  General  Phillips,  370 

Cotton,  its  cultivation,  116;  specimens  of  cloth,  116 
Council,  Captain,  commands  on  Pedee,  333,  371 
Counties,  first  in  Carolina,  31,  32 

„  Marlborough,  Ciiesterfield,  and  Darlington,  boundaries  of,  433 

„  origin  of  three  names,  436 

,,  sites  selected  for  Court  Houses,  434 

County  Court  Act,  provisions  of,  432,  433 

,,  ,,       system  remodelled,  450-452  ;  abolished,  460,  461 

Court  District,  system  established,  account  of,  459-460 
Court  of  Equity,  how  arranged,  where  to  sit,  453 
Courtney,  a  Tor}',  killed  by  Whigs,  393 
Courts,  want  of,  sorely  felt,  121 

,,        held  only  in  Charles-town,  evils  of,  126,  127  and  Mote,  128 
,,        first  petition  for  from  Pedee,  131-132,  and  note 
,,  ,,         ,,        action  of  council  thereon,   132-133 

,,        second  petition  for,  from  Pedee,  and  account  of,  135 
,,        next  petition  for,  how  disposed  of,  137 
,,        Circuit  Court  Act  passed,  account  of,  137,  138 
„  „  „       progress  of  bill  in  Parliament,  155 

,,  ,,  ,,       gaining  ground,  Governor's  address,  182-183 

,,  ,,  ,,       provisions  of  and  benefits,  184,185 

,,  ,,  ,,       officers  created,  and  appointments,  195,  196 

,,  opened  at  Long  Bluff,  the  occasion,  196 

,.,         last  circuit  of  his  Majesty's  Justices,  230 
„         opened  under  New  Constitution,  263 
,,         suspended  by  war,  278  ;  re-opened,  288 
,,         closed  again,  373  ;  opened  after  war,  416 
,,         ordered  to  be  holden  at  Cheraws,  not  done,  454 
Coxe,  Emanuel,  notice  of  family,  99 

,,      John,  with  Kolb  after  Tories,  359 
Craig,  Alexander,  notice  of,  442 

,,  ,,  County  Court  Justice  for  Chesterfield,  455 

,,       John,  in  Chesterfield,  marriage,  &c. ,  442 
Craven  County,  its  limits  and  settlement,  32 

,,  ,,         first  parochial  organization  in,  32,  33 

,,  ,,         Prince  George  Winyaw,  33 

„  ,,         Prince  Frederick's,  33 

,,  „         line  between  two  parishes.  Act  of,  33-35 

,,  ,,         St.  Mark's,  its  limits,  36 

,,  ,,         line  between  St.  Mark's  and  Prince  Frederick's,  36 

,,  ,,         Regiment  of,  120 

,,  ,,         extent  of  Prince  Frederick's  and  St.  Mark's,  166,  167 

Ci-awford,  John,  notice  of,  and  the  family,  71  and  note 

,,         James,  captaui  in  Revolution,  71 
Croly,  old  Mrs.  spared  by  Whigs,  387 
Crosland,  Edward,  notice  of,  family  tradition,  99 
CuUoden,  battiC  of,  followed  by  emigration  to  Pedee,  87,  88 
Cusack,  Adam,  his  execution  by  Wemys,  303  and  note 

Dabb3,  Joseph,  on  Pedee,  marriage  and  descendants,   joi 
.,  „       with  Kolb  after  Tories,  359 


INDEX.  533 

Dabbs,  Joseph,  killed  by  Tories,  366 

Daniel,  a  Whiij,  blunder  at  Bass's,  372  ;  atones  for  it,  373 

Dararan,  Mr.  Timothy,  settles  in  Darlington,  440 

Darlington  County,  its  boundaries,  433  ;  the  name,  436 
»  ,,         site  of  Court  House,  434 

j>  „  Courts  when  to  be  holden,  434 

»  ,,         lire  at  C.  H.,  account  of,  453  and  note 

>>  ,,         County  Court  Justices  for,  434,446,  451,  452,  457 

>>  ,,         Justices  of  Peace  for,  433,  452,  454 

>>  >>  Representatives  for,  454,  456,  457,  458,  459,  460,  461 

M  ,,         dividing  line  with  Chesterfield,  461 

David,  first  of  this  name,  account  of  family,  51  and  note 
„       Joshua,  wounded  at  Eutaw,  377 

David  St.,  account  of  name,  162  and  note 

David's  St.,  Parish  established,  163-16.S 

„  „      nature  and  objects  of  organization,   166 

),  ,,      some  of  Commissioners  decline  acting,   167 

>»  „      Journal  of  Vestry,  organization,  166-167 

»  „       action  as  to  church  building,  174-175 

))  ,)      oflBcers  elected,  175;  subsequent  elections,  177-181 

>)  „      efforts  to  procure  a  cler^'^yman,  175 

„  ,,      church  occupied  by  British,  1 76 

))  ,,      taxes  laid  on  Parish,  177-178 

„  „      parish  expenditure,  178,  180 

„  „      organization  ceases,  181 

,,  „  „  fails  to  meet  wants  of  people,  182 

,,  „       notice  of  Bill  altering  bounds  of,  181 

„  „      church  building,  181;  grand  jury  presents  it,  203 

II  I,       subscription  in,  for  poor  of  Boston,  220-222  and  note 

„  „       Committee  of  Observation  for,  their  duties,  227-228,  229 

J,  „       Members  added  to  Committee,  and  duties,  237 

,,  ,,      action  of  Committee  as  to  Col.  Steward  and  John  Mitchell, 

237-239  . 
II  „       Commissions  issued  for  Volunteer  Companies  in,  244-246 

II  „      ammunition  provided  for,  and  want  of,  244,  219,  253,  254 

I,  ,,      entitled  to  six  representatives  under  new  Constitution,  757 

,,  ,,       salt  provided  for  inhabitants,  275 

,,  ,,      retains  former  number  of  representatives,  289 

„  ,,      change  in  places  of  election,  276 

Davison,  Colonel  George,  writes  to  General  Harrington,  339 
Delaney,  Captain,  commands  company  on  Pedee,  333 
Dewitt,  Martin,  settles  on  Pedee,  his  family,  97 
,,       Thomas,  settles  lower  down,  his  family,  98 
,,       \Villiam,  notice  of,  and  family,  97  a.nd  note 
„  .,         his  house  burned  by  British,  304  and  note 

„  ,,  removes  his  family,  305 

,,  ,,         conduct  as  to  oath  of  allegiance,  305 

,,  ,,         representative  for  St.  David's,  378,  415 

,,  „  Senator,  432;  Sheriff  for  Cheraws,  416 

,,  ,,  County  Justice  for  Darlington,  434 

„  ,,         delegate  to  Convention  in  Charleston,  434 

„       Charles,  County  Justice  for  Darlington,  434 
„        William,  kills  Stephen  Gainey,  376-377 
Dibble,  John,  at  Cheraw  Bar,  436 

Dick,  William,  notice  of,  92  ;  punishes  Jeff.  Butler,  395 
Diseases,  which  first  known  on  Pedee,  effects  of  climate,  &c.,  117,  118 
Donaldson,  John,  ist  Lieutenant  of  Hangers,  236 

„      ■        ,,       escorts  Mrs.  Harrington  to  Cross  Creek,  320 
„  ,,       writes  to  General  Harrington,  321 

Dopson,  Joseph,  first  settler  on  Upper  Pedee,  50 
Drayton,  William  Henry,  account  of  appointment  as  Judge,  200 
„  „  ,,        presides  at  Long  Bluff,  209,  210 


531  INDEX. 

Drayton,  William  Henry,  clarge  to  grand  jury,  2 11-2 15 

,,  ,,  ,,      its  effects  on  petitjuryanrltbeircharge,  215-217 

,,  ,,  ,,       in  Charles-town  noticed  in  Parliament,  219 

„  ,,  „      to  grand  jury  in  Charles-town,  263,  276 

,,  „  character,  public  service  and  death,  220 

Droughts,  remarkable  instances  of,  117 

DuBose,  John,  first  of  name  on  Pedee,  family,  &,c.,  91  and  «o<e,  92 
,,  Elias,  notice  of  his  family,  92 

,,  ,,     adventure  with  Tories,  329 

„  ,,  „  with  Jeff.  Butler,  395 

„  ,,     Representative  for  St.  David's,  432 

„  ,,      County  Justice  for  Darlington,  434 

,,         Isaac,  2nd  Lieutenant  in  Regiment  of  Foot,  236 
,,  Ezekiel,  Representative  for  JJarlington,  456,  459 

Earthquake,  felt  on  Pedee,  461 

Education,  sons  of  planters  sent  abroad,  122 
,,  want  of,  sorely  felt,  299 

Edwards,  Rev.  Joshua,  emigrates  to  Pedee,  notice  of  and  family,  82,  S3  and  notes 

Elections,  for  Assembly,  trouble  at,  apprehended,  154-156 
„  „  action  of  Vestry  of  St.  David's,  167 

„  ,,  elections  held,  and  names  of  voters,  169,170,171,  172, 

173 
,,  „  within  limits  of  Marion's  Brigade  ordered  by  Governor, 

377 
Ellerbe,  Thomas,  petitions  for  land,  difficulty  with  "Welch,  62,  63 

,,  ,,         account  of  name  and  family,  63  and  note,  64  and  note 

,,       Thomas,  a  captain  under  Kolb,  30J. ;  under  Benton,  371 
,,  „         suffers  from  British,  313 

Ellison,  Robert,  petitions  for  relief  under  Amercing  Act,  416 

,,  „         Representative  for  St.  David's,  448  ;  senator,  454 

,,  „        delegate  to  Convention  in  Columbia,  451 

,,  ,,         County  Court  Justice  for  Darlington,  452 

,,  ,,        elected  sheriff,  456  ;  resigns  seat  in  Legislature,  456 

„  ,,         petitions  for  mills  on  Black  Creek,  and  result,  458 

Embankments  on  river,  456 
Ervin,  James,  Representative  for  Liberty,  461 
Evans,  notice  of  family,  52  andiio/e,  64 
„        Nathan,  his  family,  75  and  note 
„        Charles  and  George,  settle  on  Lynche's  Creek,  100 
,,        Thomas,  wounded  at  Kolb's,  dies,  361  and  note 
,,        Charles,  carried  prisoner  to  Charles- town,  384 
,,  ,,         County  Court  Justice  for  Chesterfield,  433 

,,  „        Representative  for  St.  David's,  447 

„  ,,         delegate  to  Convention  in  Columbia,  451 

,,        Thomas,  County  Court  Justice  for  Marlborough,  433,  457 
,,  „         Representative  for  St.  David's,  447 

Export,  first  articles  of,  no 

Falconer,  Wm.,  at  Cheraws  Bar,  436,  441  ;  sketch  of,  44 r,  442 
,,  ,,       Representative  for  Chesterfield,  454,  456,  459 

,,  „       C.  C.  Justice  for  Chesterfield,  455 

,,  ,,       connexion  with  District  Court  system,  459,  460 

,,  „      letter  to  Alex.  Craig,  468-470 

,,  ,,       character,  anecdote,  and  death,  467  and  note,  468,  470  and  note, 

471 
Fanning,  the  Tory,  e.xcepted  from  truce,  376,  397 

,,         adventure  with  Hunter,  396,  397 

,,         character  and  subsequent  iiistory,  397 

,,         attack  on  Robert  Gregg,  397 
Ferries,  petitions  for,  446 
Flax,  why  abandoned,  1 1 1 


INDEX.  535 

Fletchers,  the  family,  99 

Forniss,  William,  notice  of,  loi 

Ford,  John,  Representative  for  Liberty,  459 

Fowler,  Rev.  Andrew,  visits  Cheraw,  notice  of,  166,  note 

Foulis,  Rev.  Mr.,  notice  of,  175  and  note 

Freshets,  in  Pedee,  456 

Gainey,  Major,  difficulty  with  Murphy,  374 

,,  „         writes  to  Marion  on  subject,  374,  375 

„  ,,         truce  with  Marion,  375,  376 

„  ,,         defection,  character,  and  history,  376 

,,        Stephen,  killed  by  Wni.  Dewitt,  376,  377 
Galespy,  James,  petitions  for  land,  his  family,  61,  62 
„  ,,       jun.,  anecdote  of,  305 

„  ,,         „      raises  a  force  against  expedition  on  river,  316 

,,  „  „      guide  for  Green,  353,  note 

Gates,  General,  arrives  at  Pedee,  proclamation,  322 
,,         „  advances  towards  Camden,  323 

,,  ,,  Cornwallis's  account  of  the  movement,  323,  324 

,,  „  defeat  and  flight,  325 

,,         ,,  writes  to  Gen.  Harrington,  331-334 

Gazette,  E,oyal,  merry  over  Governor's  proclamation,  374 
„         ,,        notice  of  Confiscation  Act,  380 
,,  ,,        merriment  at  expense  of  Wliigs,  381 

,,  ,,        sarcastic  notice  of  books  to  be  published,  381 

Gervais,  John  Lewis,  writes  Gen.  Harrington,  321,  322 
Gibson,  Jordan,  his  removal,  73 

„       Gideon,  notice  of,  and  family,  73,  74,  and  notes 
,,  ,,  connexion  with  trouble  at  Mars  Bluff,  139,  140,  145,  146 

,,  ,,  killed  by  Murphy,  354 

,,       Jordan,  after  Tories,  393 

,,         alleged  murder  of  Kolb,  excepted  from  truce,  376 
Giles,  Col.  Hugh,  notice  of,  70 

,,  ,,  raises  volunteer  force,  326 

Glen,  Duke,  adventure  with  Tories,  384,  385 
Godfrey,  Richard,  notice  of,  and  family,  103 
Godbold,  John,  early  settler,  notice  of,  and  family,  68,  69  and  note 

,,       Hugh,  notice  of,  69  and  note 
Goings,  Mike,  murderer  of  Kolb,  361 

Government  retains  supplies,  382  ;   Gen.  Pinckney's  letter  on  subiect    382 
Governor,  Royal,  flight  from  Charles-town,  374 
Grand  Jury,  first  presentment  at  Cheraws,  196-198 

,,         ,,      subsequent  presentments,  198,  199,  201-203,  217,  218,  230-233 

,,  ,,     of  Cheraws,  only  one  making  presentment,  233  and  ?io<e 

,,  ,,     presentments  under  new  Constitution,    264-266,   276,   277,   288, 

289,  429,  430 
„         ,,     effects  of  presentments  on  people,  200,  277,  278 

Grants,  earliest  to  lands  on  Pedee,  50  ;  others  made,  54,  56,  57,  73,   8r 

,,       curious  reservations  in,  115 
Gray,  Robert,  estate  confiscated,  380 
Gregg,  John,  petitions  for  land,  notice  of,  and  family,  86,  87  ,  and  note 

„        Joseph,  his  family,  87,  and  note 

,,       Captain  James,  marches  to  Charles-town,  294,  301 

,,  ,,  ,,  suffers  by  Tories,  383 

,,       Eobei-t,  attacked  by  Fanning,  397 
Green,  General,  movements  of,  marches  to  Pedee,  349 
„  ,,  effects  of  presence  there,  351,  352 

„  ,,  leaves  Pedee,  his  march,  353  ;  effects  on  people,  353 

,,  „  cartel  with  Cornwallis,  367 

„  ,,  cautions  Marion  against  Tories,  371 

Greenville,  time  and  origin  of  name,  436 
Grimke,  Judge,  charge  at  first  court  after  war,  416-429 


536  INDEX. 

Hanford,  Enoch,  teacher  in  St.  David's,  438 
Harrallson,  Lewis,  Representative  for  Liberty,  459 
Harllee,  William,  emi^jrates  to  America,  443 

„         Tliomas,  settles  in  Marion,  443 
Hart,  Arthur,  account  of  and  family,  105,  and  note 

,,  ,,         his  death,  278 

Harrington,  Henry  William,  emigrates  to  Pedee,  his  family,  104,  105,  and  noif 
„  ,,  ,,         commissioned  captain,  239,  and  note 

„  ,,  ,,         at  Haddrell's  Point,  274 

„  „  ,,  elected  Member  of  Assembly,  275 

„  ,,  ,,  writes  to  Colonel  Kershaw,  289,  290 

,,  ,,  ,,         military  promotions,  296,  297 

„  ,,  ,,  head-quarters,  where,  297 

„  „  „         marches  N.C.  Militia  to  Charles-town,  301 

„  '     ,,  ,,  writes  to  Mrs.  fiarrin:^ton,  302 

,,  ,,  ,,         loss  of  and  notice  of  valuable  negro,  313,  note 

„  „  ,,  suit  after  war  for  negro,  3r3  «o<e 

„  ,,  ,,  sends  detachment  witli  negro  to  Anson,  321 

,,  ,,  ,,         account  of  his  servant,  Toney,  321,  ?io<e 

,,  ,,  ,,  movements  after  Gates's  defeat,  330,  331 

„  ,,  ,,         arrives  at  Haley's  Ferry,  and  Cheravv,  336 

,,  ,,  ,,         moves  up  river,  and  to  Grassy  Creek,  Roanoke,  347 

„  ,,  ,,  adventure  with  robber,  397-399 

,,  ,,  ,,  character  and  death,  399 

,,  Mrs.,  adventure  with  British,  312 

,,  ,,  „  with  Tories,  and  suit,  329,  330,  and  note 

,,  ,,  ,,  safe  conduct  to  Cross  Creek,  320 

,,  ,,     notice  of,  399 

larrison,  two  brothers,  Tories  on  Lynclie's  Creek,  308 

,,        Major,  adventure  with  Murphy  in  Charles-town,  400 
Hawes,  Dr.  Oliver,  settles  at  Society  Hdl,  notice  of,  443 
Hawthorn,  brought  to  Pedee,  442,  note 

Hawthorne,  murdered  by  Tories,  his  son's  revenge,  394,  395 
Hemp,  cultivation  of  abandoned,  in 
Hewstiss,  name  known  early,  true  Whigs,  98 

Hicks,  George,  petitions  for  land,  notice  of  and  family,  79,  8r,  and  note 
,,  ,,  captain  in  King's  service,  119 

,,  ,,  as  major  starts  with  detachment  to  Congarees,  249 

,,  ,,  marches  to  Charles-town,  256 

,,  ,,         Chairman  of  Committee  of  Oliservation  for  St.  David's,  238 

,,  ,,  Warden  of  St.  David's  Society,  281 

,,  ,.  removes  with  family  to  Virginia,  327 

,,  ,,  Commissioner  of  Caveats  for  Cheraws,  432 

,,  ,,  C.  C.  Justice  for  Marlborough,  433 

,,  ,,         sketch  of,  402 

,,       Daniel,  adventure  with  Tories,  385 
,,       Benjamin,  jun..  Inspector  of  Tobacco  at  Gheraws,  430 
,,  ,,  „         delegate  to  Convention  in  Charles-town,  447 

,,  ,,  ,,  delegate  to  Conventi(m  in  Columbia,  451 

,,  ,,  ,,  Representative  for  Marlborough,  454 

,,  ,,  ,,  C.  C.  Justice  for  Marlborough,  455 

Hodge,  notice  of  family,  loi 
Horse-pen,  origin  of  name,   1 10 
Hughes,  a  Tory,  spared  by  Whigs,  386 
Hunter,  Dr.  Robert,  notice  of,  69 

„        Andrew,  adventure  witn  Fanning,  396,  397 

,,  ,,        Representative  for  St.  David's,  445  ;  for  Darlington,  457 

Indian  tribes  in  Carolina,  i 

,,        territory,  of  tribes  on  Pedee,  2;  language,  19 
,,       remains  in  Pedee,  21,  22,  23 
,,        mode  of  clearing  lands,   24;  grave  opened,  25 
„        habits  and  customs,  23,  26-29 


INDEX.  537 

Indians,  Catawbas,  tradition,  2  ;  origin,  3,  19 

,,  ,,  removal,  settlement,  teriitory,  and  language,  3-5 

,,  ,,         visit  to  Charles-town,  with  Cheraws,  9 

,,  ,,  murder  of  some  by  Notchets,    10,11 

,,  ,,  Governor's  visit  to  them  and  others,  11,  12 

„  ,,         thoir  effort  for  union  with  other  tribes,  13,  14 

,,  ,,         visited  by  John  Evans,  15,  16 

,,  „  smallpox  among  them,  its  effects,  16,  17 

„  ,,  union  with  Cheraws,  18  ;  their  town,  i8 

,,  ,,         decline  and  number,  18 

,,  ,,         removal  to  North  Carolina,  19 

,,        Cheraws,  how  name  called  at  different  times,  1 

,,  ,,         their  territory,  2  ;  first  mention  of,  5 

,,  ,,         advised  to  unite  with  Catawbas,  17 

,,  ,,         meaning  of  Cheraw,  19,20 

,,        Kadapaws,  where  found,  2 

,,        Pedees,  locality,  2  ;  first  mention  of  in  public  records,  8 

,,  ,,       murder  of  one  by  Wm.  Kemp,  8,  9 

,,  ,,       visit  to  Charles-town,  and  presents  to  them,  10 

,,  „       addressed  by  Governor  at  Congarees,  12 

,,  „       owners  of  slaves,  13 

,,  „       urged  to  settle  among  Catawbas,  13,  14 

,,  „        murder  of  some  by  Notchees,  15,  16 

,,  ,,       meaning  of  Pedee,  20,21 

,,        travellers  among  them,  Lederer,  5-8 

„  „  ,,         ,,       Bartram,  2,5;  Lawson,  26-28;  his  end,  29 

»  )>  »)         >)       Adair,  5 

,,        Sara,  its  locality,  6-8 

,,        Winyaws,  their  locality,  2 
Indigo,  account  of,  iii,  112,  and  no<e 
Insurrection  of  slaves,  234,  456 
Internal  improvements,  necessity  for,  109 

„  ,,  roads,  bridges,  and  ferries,  112,  113,  114 

,,  ,,  ,,  „  grandjury  notice  them,  197,  198,  20  1 

Irby,  Charles,  notice  of,  family,  92,  and  note 

,,     Edmund,  commander  under  Kolb,  301 
Irish  Protestants,  their  petition  and  locality,  74,  75  ;  Irish  town,  75 
Izard,  Walter  and  Ralph,  early  settlers,  removal,  75 

Jackson,  Stephen,  captain  under  Kolb,  301  ;  under  Benton,  371 

,,         Benjamin,  C.C.  Justice  for  Chesterfield,  433 
James,  James,  leader  of  Welch  colony,  52 
,,       Rev.  Philip,  account  of,  52 

,,       John  Jones,  Representative  for  Marlborough,  454,  456 
,,  ,,         ,,      C.C.  Justice  for  Marlborough,  457 

Jamieson,  Colonel,  early  settler,  75 
Jay's  treaty,  meeting  at  Darlington  to  consider,  455 
Jeffrey's  Creek,  act  passed  fur  navigation  of,  and  commissioners,  453 
Jolly,  Joseph,  early  grantee  of  land,  54 

Jones,  Captain  Joseph,  leads  Tory  party  against  Colonel  Kolb,  360 
„  ,,  ,,         subsequent  history,   367,  and  noie 

,,      John,  one  of  party  at  Colonel  Kolb's,  361,  and  note 
,,       Captain  Joseph,  commands  guard  at  Kolb's  Ferry,  371 
,,       Elias,  teacher  in  St.  David's,  438 
Justices  of  Peace,  first  appointments  of,  133 

„  for  Cheraws,  under  new  Constitution,  257-258 

„  for  tliree  counties,  433,  452,  454 

„  importance  of  office  under  C.  C.  Act,  434 

Kershaw,  Eli  and  Joseph,  settle  at  Cheraw,  104 

„  „     elected  captain  of  rangers,  236 

„  „     advertises  property,  removal,  119,  note 

Kim'orough,  John,  notice  of,  and  family,  90-91 


538  INDEX. 

King,  Eli,  teacher  in  St.  David's,  437 

,,      Dr.  Miles,  settles  at  Society  Hill,  443 
Kolb,  Jacob,  petitions  for  land,  50 

Henry,  petitions  for  land,  his  family,  83,  84  and  note 
Jehu,  his  character,  84 
Abel,  family  and  residence,   84  note,  268 
,,     Warden  of  St.  David's  Societj',  281 
,,     marches  troops  to  Charles-town,  301 
,,     commands  at  Long  Bluff,  af  er  Gates's  defeat,  327,  344 
„     return  of  his  force  to  General  Harrington,  344 
,,     in  full  tide  of  success  on  Pedee,  352 

,,     difficulty  and  correspondence  with  Captain  Snipes,  354-355 
,,      writes  to  General  Marion,  355-356 
,,     pursues  Tories  to  Drowning  Cretk,  358-359 
,,     goes  to  Cat  Fish  after  Tories,  359-360 
„     surprised  by  Tories,  his  death,  360-361,  363 
,,     character,  effects  of  his  death,  366,  367 

Lafayette,  General,  marches  to  join  Southern  forces,  371 

,,  interview  with  Joshua  Ammons,  402-403 

Lands,  first  advertisements  for  sale  of,  54,  74,    75 
Legislature,  canvass  for,  in  Darlington,  458-459,  461 
Lewis,  Rev.  Joshua,  pastor  at  Welch  Neck,  440 
Lide,  notice  of,  family,   77 
John,  hia  family,  77 

Thomas,  his  character  and  family,  78  and  note 
Robert,  settles  on  Pedee,  his  descendants,  78,  79,  and  note 
,,  marches  detachment  to  Charles-town,  302 

,,         incident  of  Mrs.  Lide,  and  death,  302 
,,         Commissioner  of  Caveats  for  Cheraws,  432 
,,  C.  C.  Justice  for  Darlington,  434 

Charles  Motte,  notice  of,  473 

„  seeks  admission  to  Bar,  speech  on  occasion,  474,  480,  482 

,,  goes  to  Columbia,  admitted  to  Bar,  480 

„  removes  to  Georgia,  account  of  enterprise,  4S0-482 

,,  farewell,  on  departure  from,  481-482 

,,  suit  growing  out  of  his  father's  will,  history  of,  482-483 

,,  speech  in  1814,   483-488 

,,  ,,        before  Appeal  Court  in  Equity,  480-496 

.,  ,,       remarkaljle  peroration,  496  and  7io^e 

„  memorial  to  Legislature,  496-497 

„  appearance,  and  speech  before  joint  committee,  497  and 

note 
„  chnracter,  genius,  and  end,  497-498 

Light  Horse  Troop,  petition  for,  action  thereon,  and  officers,  448-449 
Long  Bluff,  origin  of  settlement  there,  why  called  so,  118  and  note 
,,  Court  House  there,  193 

,,  stockade,  with  guard  there,  371 

,,  appropriation  for  public  buildings  at,  457;  repaired,  458 

Lowder's  Lake,  petition  for  opening,  and  commissioners,  457 
Lowry.  notice  of  family,  1 79,  note 
Loyalists,  character  of,  267 

Lucas,  John,  adventure  with  old  Mrs.  Croly,  387 
Luke,  John,  grantee  of  land  in  Welch  Neck,  79 
Lynche's  Creek,  Acts  to  improve  navigation  of,  and  commissioners,  446,  453 

Macat,  Major  Spence,  writes  General  Harrington,  322,  323 
Magistrates  for  Cheraws  District,  225  ;  why  names  published,  225,  226 

.,  vindication  of  by  grand  jury,  232,  233 

Manderson,  Capt.  George,  escape  at  Hunt's  BlufiF,  311  and  7Wte 

,,         John,  notice  of,  104 
Manufactures,  first  specimen  of,  and  prospects  for,  116 


INDEX. 


539 


Manufactures,  domestic,  efforts  to  promote,  157,  158 
,,  notice  of  Christoplier  Gadsileu,  158 

,,  subscription  for  papers  in  St.  David's,  159  and  note,  ifio  and  i!0^e 

Marion,  Col.  Francis,  operations  before  and  after  Gates's  defeat,  326-327 
,,  ,,  notice  of  his  defeat  in  Royal  Gazette,  34I 

,,  ,,  attempt  on  George-town,  343 

,,  „  his  military  status  at  this  time,  343,  note 

„  ,,  writes  to  General  Harrington,  343,  344 

„  „  writes  General  Sumpler  about  Capt.  Snipes,  356,  357 

,,  ,,  correspondence  with  Major  Gainey,  375,  376 

,,  ,,  troubled  about  writs  of  election  in  brigade,  377 

,,  ,,  regiments  composing  his  brigade,  392 

Markets,  for  first  settlers,  no 
J\Iars  Bluff,  origin  of  name,  69,  note 
Marshall,  Adam,  settles  at  Long  Bluff,  443 

Marlborough  County,  its  boundaries,  433;  after  whom  named,  436 
,,  ,,  site  for  Coui-t  House,  434 

,,  „         Courts,  when  to  be  holden,  434 

,,  „         C.  C,  Justices  for,  433,  446,  451,  452,  455,  457,  458 

,,  ,,         justices  of  peace  for,  433,  452,  454 

,,  „         representatives  for,  454,  456-461 

IMartin,  Col.  Alex.,  writes  Gen.  Harrington,  334,  335 
Matthews,  Governor,  writes  Marion  in  reply  to  Benton's  letter,  389,  390 
Matthis,  Samuel,  C.  C.  Justice  for  Darlington,  451 
M'intosh,  Joiin,  settles  on  Pedee,  his  family,  88,  89  and  note 
,,         Alexander,  notice  of  him,  his  family,  89  and  note 
„  ,,  union  of  family  with  Welch,  90 

,,  ,,  captain  in  King's  service,  119 

,,  ,,  elected  major  by  Provincial  Congress,  236 

,,  ,,  receives  letter  from  Council  of  Safety,  251,  252 

,,  ,,  elected  lieutenant- colonel,  256 

„  ,,  Member  of  Legislative  Council,  279 

,,  ,,  President  of  St.  David's  Society,  281 

,,  ,,  made  brigadier-general,  285 

„  ,,  commands  in  Georgia,  292 

,,  „  reply  to  Gen.  Moultrie,  293 

,,  ,,  celebrated  reply  to  enemy,  294 

„  „  commissioner  at  Charles  town,  295 

„  ,,  his  character  and  death,  346,  347 

,,  Capt.  Alexander,  commands  under  Benton,  371 

„  ,,  in  skirmish  on  Black  Creek,  387 

,,  ,,  notice  of  him,  387,  «o^e 

,,  ,,  C.  C.  Justice  for  Darlington,  451,  457 

„  „  Representative  for  Darlington,  454 

,,  ,,  Commissioner  of  Locations  for  Cheraws,  455 

,,  „  Sheriff  for  Cheraws,  458  ;  for  Darlington,  460 

M'lver,  Roderick,  notice  of,  his  family,  88  and  note 
,,       Sarah,  early  settler,  88 
,,       union  of  family  with  Welch,  90 
,,       John,  elected  senator,  459 
M'Arthur,  Major,   reaches  Cheraw,  308 
,,  „         goes  to  Long  Bluff,  309 

,,  ,,         offers  reward  for  Thomas  Ayer,    result,  309-311 

,,  ,,  at  Cheraw,   sends  party  to  General  Harrington's,  312 

,,  ,,  retreat  from  Pedee,  315-318,  371 

„  „         sends  expedition  down  the  river,  316,  317 

M'Dowell,  William,  notice  of,  100,  and  note 
M'Call,  George,  notice  of,  301,  and  note 

„  ,,       joins  Marion,  impression  of  Marion,  326,  327 

M'Rae,  Duncan,  C.  C.  Justice  for  Chesterfield,  451 
M'Ree,  Colonel,  adventure  witli  Bradley,  393,  394 
,,  „         Representative  fur  Liberty,  457 


540 


INDEX. 


M'Culley,  Andrew,  teacher  in  St.  David's,  437 
Medal  of  Pitt,  account  of,  122,  123,  and  note  124 

,,  statues  and  rings,  and  statue  in  Charles-town,  124,  125,  s.ninote 

Mil's,  earliest  in  Pedee  country,  63,  note;   no,  in,  note;   118,  119,  note 
Militia,  first  review  on  Pedee,  officers,  120 ;  from  Pedee  in  constant  service,  377 

,,       returns  of,  446,  457,  461 

,,       return  of  Colonel  Spencer's  regiment,  462 
Military  condition  of  Province,  119,  120;  organization,  120 

,,         further  Acts  on  organization  of,    285 

,,         ardor  in  Province,  2.^6,  292 

,,         strength  in  Carolina  at  close  of  1779,  298 
Mills,  William  Henry,  elected  to  Provincial  Congress,  254 
.,  „  ,,  takes  sides  with  British,  304 

M  ,,         „  made  colonel  by  Koval  Government,  316,  318 

,,  „         „  escapes  to  George-town,  316 

.»  ,,         ,,  estate  confiscated,  banishment,  and  history,  380,  381 

Mikell,  John,  notice  of  and  family,  89  and  note,  90 
Mitchell,  John,  a  trader,  106 

„  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  petitions  for  her  husband,  result,  415,  416 

Moultrie,  General  William,  writes  to  C  donel  M'Intosh,  293 
Murphy,  first  of  the  name,  and  its  change,  71,  and  note 

„         Malachi,  notice  of,  and  family,  71,  72,  and  note 

,,         Maurice,  and  his  son,  72 

,,  Michael,  petitions  for  land,  72,  73 

,,         Colonel  Maurice,  commands  on  Pedee,   notice  of,  298,  333,  352,  371 

,,  ,,  ,,        punishes  Blackman,  a  Tory,  354 

,,  ,,  ,,        kills  Gideon  Gibson,  354 

,,  ,,  ,,        adventure  wi  h  Tories  at  Bass's,  372,  373 

,,  ,,  ,,        difficulty  with  Gainey,  374 

,,  ,,  ,,        attacks  Harrison  in  Charles-town,  400 

,,  ,,  ,,        attacks  Tory  at  Jeffrey's  Creek,  400  ;  his  end,  400 

,,  Malachi,  wounded  and  escapes  at  Bass's,  373 

Navigation  of  Pedee,  earliest  account  of,  62 

,,  ,,  Acts  passed  on  subject,  and  commissioners,   430,  43 1, 

446,  453 

,,  ,,  history  of  legislation  on  subject,  431,  432 

,,  ,,  effectually  opened,  464 

Negros,  remarkable,  instances  of,  313  note,  321  note,^'j'j 

„       returns  of,  in  British  service,  346 
Nettles,  Zachariah,  C.  C.  Justice  for  Darlington,  434 
Neville,  William  and  Thomas,  after  Tories,  393 
Newberry,  District,  why  so  called,  53,  note 
Nicholas,  Colonel,  writes  to  General  Harrington,  331 
N orris.  Dr.  Robert,  C.  C.  Justice  for  Darlington,  451 
Nut  Grass,  notice  of,  442,  7iote 

Oath  of  allegiance  after  fall  of  Charles- town,  304 

,,  ,,  course  of  people  in  connexion  with,  305 

,,  ,,  incidents  connected  with,  304,  305 

Odom,  Levi,  a  Whig,  kills  Courtney,  393 

Paeish  organization,  want  of,  felt,  125 

Park,  Thomas,  teacher  in  St  David's,  437  ;  subsequent  history,  437,  438 

Parker,  Elisha,  notice  of,  family  and  descendants,  98 

„        Thomas,  at  Cheraws  Bar,  436 
Pawley,  Colonel  George,  notice  of  the  family,  100 
Pearson,  family  settlement,  1 79,  note 

„         Moses,  a  noted  captain,  79,  note 

,,  ,,       C.C.  Justice  for  Marlborough,  433 

Pegues,   Claudius,   his  arrival,  settlement,  and  account  of  family,  94,  95,  and 
note 

,,  ,,  active  in  affair  at  Mars  Bluff,  147 


INDEX.  541 

Pegues,   Claudius,  elected  to  Assembly  from  St.  David's,  171 
,,  declines  seat  in  provincial  Congress,  -254 

„  suffers  from  Bi  iiish  at  Uheraw,  3  r  3 

,,  C.C.  Justice  for  Marlborough  County,  433 

,,  his  singular  end,  399 

William,  Representative  for  St.  David's,  378,  415,  432 

,,  suffers  from  British,  Mrs.  Pe.jues'  escape,  38.S,  386 

,,  inspector  of  tobacco  at  Cheraw,  430 

,,  C.C.  Justice  for  Chesterfield,  433,  452 

,,  Representative  for  Chesterfield,  454 

Claudius,  jun.,  captain  under  Benton,  371 
,,  ordinary  for  Cheraws,  374,  416 

,,  incident,  at  Eutaw,  377 

,,  Representative  for  St.  David's,  415,  432 

,,  C.C.  Justice  for  Marlborouuh,  433 

Pendleton,  Honorable  Henry,  elected  Representative  for  St.  David's,  account 
of,  297,  298 
,,  ,,  ,,     active  in  ])assage  of  C  >unty  Court  Act,  432 

Penii,  J ,  writes  to  General  Harrington,  332,  333 
Petitions  for  Ferries,  446  ;  for  tobacco  inspection  at  Cheraw,  450 
,,         for  circulating  medium,  447,  448  ;  for  its  extension,  455 
,,         for  troop  of  light  horse,  action  thereon,  448,  449 
,,         for  opening  Lowder's  Lake,  456,  457 
,,         against  measurer  of  lumber,  kc,  at  George-town,  457 
,,  for  canal  from  Roger's  lake  to  Pedee,  458 

,,         from  Robert  Ellison,  for  mills  on  Black  Creek,  458 
Piney  Grove,  where,  93 
Planter's  club,  notice  of,  119. 

Pledger,  Philip,  arrival,  notice  of  family,  85  and  note,  86 
„         ,,         captain  in  king's  service,  119 

„         ,,        adventure  with  Driggers  and  his  gang,  194,  195,  and  note 
„'         „         horses  taken  by  British  Lieutenant,  313  and  note 
,,         ,,         Representative  for  St.  David's,  378 
,,     John,  captain  under  Benton,  371 
,,     Joseph,  C.C.  Justice  for  Chesterfield,  433 
Poelnittz,  Baron  de,  settles  on  Pedee,  his  family,  442,  443 
Population  of  Ciieraw  District,  454,  465 
Posts,  British,  nearest  to  Charles- town,  306 
Pouncey,  William,  his  family,  84,  and  note 
Powe,  Thomas,  account  of,  and  family,  102,  103 

,,  ,,       Representative  for  St.  David's,  415,  432 

,,  ,,       Commissioner  of  Location,  430 

,,  ,,       C.C.  Justice  for  Chesterheld,  433,  452 

,,  ,,       declines  seat  for  St.  David's,  453 

Powell,  Colonel  G.  G.,  visit  to  Mars  B  uff,  and  letter,  146-149 
,,  ,,  visit  to  Broad  River,  150 

„  ,,  member  of  Assembly  for  St.  David's,  173,  177 

,,  ,,  appointed  Judge,  173,  184 

,,  ,,  deputy  from  St.  David's  in  Provincial  Congress,  20S 

„  ,,  Colonel  of  Ciieraws  Regiment,  226 

,,  ,,  in  Provin-'ial  Congress,  240 

,,  ,,  declines  seat  for  St.  Philip's  in  favor  of  St.  David's,  2^  7 

,,  ,,  ordered  with  regiment  to  Congarees,  248 

,,  ,,  elected  judge  under  new  Constitution,  259 

„  ,,  retains  seal  for  St.  David's,  259 

,,  ,,  letter  to  Assembly  as  to  charges  against  him,  27; 

„  „  character  and  death,  292 

Pratt,  Wm.,  with  Duke  Glen,  against  Tories,  385 

Presentments  of  Grand  Jury,  196-198,  198-199,  201-202,  203,  2(7-218,  2^c- 
233,  264-266,  276-277,  288-289,  429-430,  435 
,,         of  Petit  Jury,  216 
Prices,  early  notice  of,  60,  61,  and  note 


542  INDEX. 

Prices  of  slaves,  1 1 7 

Province,  general  prosperity  of,  115,  116 

Provincial  Congress,  first  meeting,  account  of,  207-208 

,,  second  meeting,  and  objects,  208-209 

„  deputies  from   St.  David's,  209 

„  meeting    ist  January,    1775,   action  of    deputies  of    St. 

David's,   226-227 
,,  circular  letter  to  St.  David's,  234 

,,  Association  formed,  other  action,  235-236 

,,  military  organization  by,  236 

,,  meeting,  Nov.  1775,  and  action,  247-249 

,,  orders  payment  to  Major  Hicks,  and  others,  255,  256 

„  action  for  defence  of  colony,  &c.,  255,  256 

,,  oatli  prescribed,  effects  on  people,  263 

Public  Buildings,  appropriation  for,  457  ;  repaired,  458 

,,  Commissioners  for  building,  &c.,  in  three  districts,  460 

Pugb,  Rev.  Evan,  notice  of,  and  family,  102 

,,  ,,  officiates  in  St.  David's  Church,  175 

,,  ,,  extracts  from  Journal  of,  267,  268,  296,  301  note,  302,  304, 

306,  326,  346  note,  353,  371,  372 
,,  ,,  preaches  thanksgiving  sermon,  296 

,,  ,,  elected  delegate  to  Convention  in  Columbia,  451 

,,  „  preaches  sermon  commemorative  of  Washington,  446  note 

„  ,,  character  and  death,  466  and  note 

„     Ezra,  notice  of,  talents  and  death,  472-473 
Punch,  John,  settles  at  Society  Hill,  443 
Purvis,  John,  petitions  for  land,  and  settles,  81-82 

Quick,  notice  of  the  family,  loi  and  note 
,,       Thomas,  a  gallant  Whig,  loi 
,,  ,,        incident  of  at  Eutaw,  377 

Regulators,  origin  and  history  of  their  movements,  128,  129,  157,  155,  160,  161 

,,  troubles  in  North  Carolina,  129,  153,  154 

,,  in  other  parts  of  South  Carolina,  130,  135 

,,  about  Camden,  134 

,,  notice  of  outlaws,  &c.,  134,  135 

,,  Governi'r's  address  about,  and  Assembly's  reply,  136,  137 

,,  Lieut.- Governor's  remarks  about,  136,  137 

,,  accounts  of  from  back  country,   138,  139,  144,  149,  151,  152,  153, 

154-  ^p5>  182,  194  and  note 

„  character  of  leaders,  138,146 

,,  accounts  of  affair  at  Mars  Bluff,  139,  140,  144,  145,  155,  156 

,,  traditional  account,  150  and  note 

,,  Governor's  proclamations  and  efforts,  141,  142,  143,  144,  145 

„  Col,  Powell's  mission  and  letter,  146-149 

„  demands  of  the  people,  154,  155 

,,  Governor's  address  and  Assembly's  reply,  156,  157 

Revolution,  incipient  causes  of,  122,  126,  127,  128 

,,  progress  of  feeling,  205,  206 

,,  effects  of  repeal  of  Stamp  Act,  206 

„  Scheme  of  East  India  Company,  and  course  of  ParUament,  206,  207 

,,  Town  Meeting  called,  207 

,,  list  of  some  from  Pedee  in  service,  404-41 4 

Roach,  Henry,  petitions  for  land,  62 
Robertson,  Major  Drury,  settles  in  Marlborough,  442 

,,  „  Representative  for  St.  David's,  448 

,,      ,  „  County  Court  Justice  for  Marlborough,  451,  458 

,,  ,,  Representative  for  Marlborough,  456,  459 

Rogers,  Nicholas,  grantee  of  land,  family,  65,  66  and  note 
„       Benjamin,  one  of  Glen's  party,  384 
„  ,,  Sheriff  for  Cheraws,  446 


INDEX.  543 

Eoyalty,  last  days  of,  in  Carolina,  224 
,,         Royal  Governor's  flight,  240 
Rushing,  John,  notice  of,  82 

Rutledge,  Governor,  writes  to  Maiion  about  Benton's  Regiment,  377 
,,  „  sends  Marion  writs  of  election,  377 

Sandy  Bldff  Settlement,  account  of,  70 

„  subsequent  history  of,  and  visit  there,  74  and  note 

Sauls,  Absoloni,  County  Court  Justice  for  Darlington,  451 
Saunders,  one  of  families  at  Sandy  Bluff,  71 
,,        John,  notice  of,  and  family,  73 
„         George,  his  untimely  end,  73  note 
Settlements,  made  first  on  coast,  and  extension,  31 

„  where  first  made  in  interior,  51,  66,  70,  117 

„  inducements  held  out  to  emigration,  42 

,,  in  lower  part  of  Welch  Tract,  69 

,,  settlers  and  church  building,  69  and  note 

,,  on  Little  Pedee,  86 

,,  on  Lynche's  Creek,  100 

,,  whence  their  elements  derived,  108 

,,  on  Black  Creek,  100 

Shaw,  William,  notice  of,  404  note 
Shoemake,  a  Tory,  notice  of,  373,  393 
Slaves,  increase  of  among  first  settlers,  73 

Smallwood,  Gen.,  writes  to  Gen.  H.irrington,  336,  337,  341-343 
Smith,  Co).  John,  settles  in  Darlington,  440 
,,       Andrew  and  Ralph,  notice  of,  441 

„       John,  C.  C.  Justice  for  Darlington,  452  ;   Representative,  454 
,,       Dr.  Thomas,  notice  of,  500,  note 
Snipes,  Capt.  Wm.  Clay,  difficulty  and  correspondence  with  Kolb,  354,  355 
Snowden,  a  Tory,  punished  by  John  Bethea,  394 
Society  of  St.  David's,  organization  and  history  of,  280-284 
,,  „  subscription  paper  in  aid  of,  282,  283 

,,  ,,  first  school-house,  284 

„  „  revived  after  war,  436  ;  officers,  &c.,  436,  437 

„  ,,  escheated  property'  given  to,  438 

,,  ,,  deceased  members  of,  438,  439 

„  ,,  members  dismissed,  439  j  added,  439 

,,  ,,  academy  building,  440 

,,  „  famous  exhibition,  453 

,,  ,,  later  pupils  of,  alluded  to,  472 

Society  Hill,  origin  of,  440 
Soldiers,  list  of,  in  war,  404-414 
Sorrency,  Samuel,  petitions  for  land,  58 
Sparks,  four  brothers,  account  of,  98,  99 

,,       Daniel,  his  character  and  family,  98  and  note,  99 
,,       Harry,  hung  by  Tories,  and  fate  of  one  of  Tories,  358 
,,       Daniel,  captain  under  Benton,  371 
Spencer,  William  and  Calvin,  notice  of,  106 

,,         Calvin,  Representative  for  St.  David's,  432,  445 
,,  ,,        C.  C.  Justice  for  Chesterfield,  433,  452 

„  ,,        delegate  to  Convention  in  Charles-town,  447 

,,  „        delegate  to  Convention  in  Columbia,  451 

,,  ,,        colonel  of  Chesterfield  Regiment,  461 

„  ,,        notice  of  engagement,  marriaye,  and  death,  463  and  note 

Stewart,  David,  Representative  for  Marlborough,  461 
Steward,  Charles  Augustus,  settles  near  Cheraw,  106  and  note 
,,  „  elected  to  Assembly,  177 

,,  ,,  lieut.col.  of  Cheraw  Regiment,  226 

,,  „  before  committee  of  St.  David's,  237,  238 

,,         Mrs.  Sarah,  petitions  for  her  husband,  &c.,  378,  379 
,,  „  his  character,    379  ;  error,  and  subsequent   career, 

380  and  note 


544  INDEX. 

Stock  raising,  most  profitable  business,  76 

,,     wild,  found  by  settlers,  how  taken,  109,  no 
„     remarkable  incident  related  of  Malachi  Murphy,  no,  note 
Strother,  notice  of,  family,   \';g  note 

„       George  and  William  settle  near  Cheraw,  443,  444 
„       William  writes  to  Council  of  Safety,  2^^ 
,,  ,,       Sheriff  of  Cheraws,  292 

„  ,,        Representative  for  St.  David's,  415,  445 

,,  ,,        C.  C.  Justice  for  Cliestertteld,  433 

Stubbs,  John,  settles  on  Cat  Fish,  87 
Sumpter,  General,  writes  to  Marion,  356-357 
Sweat,  Wm.,  notice  of,  loi 

,,        James,  account  of,  311  and  note 
,,       Nathan,  capture  and  escape,  312 
Sweeney,  notice  of  the,  family,  91 
,,         Barney,  his  descendants,  91 

Takleton,  Colonel,  account  of  affairs  in  Carolina,  314,  315 

^,  „  ,,  failure  of  expeilition  on  river,  318,  319 

,,  ,,  British  movements  before  Camden,  324,  325 

jj  ,,  American   movements  and  Green's  advance,  350, 

351  and  note 
,,  ,,  Cornwallis's  situation,  &c.,  368 

,,  ,,  1)  >>         error,  370 

Tart,  Enos,  after  Tories,  393 
Taxes,  notice  of,  n5  and  note 
Taylor,  Captain  S.,  delegate  to  Convention  in  Charleston,  447 

,,  „  leaves  the  country,  455 

Terrell,  account  of  the  family,  53  and  note 
Thomas,  Tristram,  emigrates  to  America,  93 

,,  removal  of  his  family  to  Pedee,  93  and  note,  and  94 

,,        Eev.  Robert,  notice  of,   94 

Tristram,  notice  of,  94,  Major  under  Kolb,  301 
j^  ,,  commands  party  on  river  against  boats,    316,  517 

,,  his  active  service  on  Pedee,  371 

,,  Representative  f('r  St.  David's,  388,  442 

,,  ,,  Senator  for  St.  Davi  I's,  415,  459 

,,  C.  C.  Judge  for  Marllorough,  433,  452 

,,         delegate  to  Convention  in  Cliarle-ton.  447 
,,  difficulty  with  Colonel  Benton,  455-456 

„         sketch  of,  and  death,  400,  401   and  note 
William,  settles  on  Pedee,  marriage  and  familv,  94  and  note 
,,  Commissioner  of  Caveats  for  Cheraws,  432 

„  ,,         senator,  445 

,,         C.  C.  Justice  for  Marlborough,  452 
Thornby,  Mnjor,  commands  detachment  to  Charles-town,  301 
Tobacco,  its  cultivation,  n2  and  note 

„       inspection  at  Cheraws,  430 
Tories  on  Pedee,  and  punishment,  298 
,,     pursued  by  Kolb,  358-359,  359-360 
,,     revenge  on  Kolb.  360-362 
,,     on  Jeffrey's  and  Black  Creeks,  383 

,,     between  Lumber  River  and  Little  Pedee,  pursued  by  Whigs,  393 
Townsend,  notice  of,    101 
Township,  plan  of,  42,  43 

,,  on  Pedee,  name  and  locality,  43,  44 

,,  proceedings  of  Council,  43,  44,  45 

,,  first  settlement  in  Queensborough,  44,  45 

,,  locality  ot  the  town,  45 

,,  form  of  grant  for  plots  in,  45  note 

Trade,  points  of  note  for,  n2 
Troops,  British,  sickness  at  Cheraw,  176,  319,  320 


INDEX.  545 

Turbeville,  Rev.  William,  notice  of,  70,  71,  and  note 
Turnage,  William,  98 

Voyage,  use  of  term,  igg 

Waties,  Thomas,  at  Cheraws  Bar,  436 

Webster's,  notice  of,  99 

Welch  emigration  to  America,  46 

,,       remove  from  Pennsylvania  to  Delaware,  46 
,,       first  visit  to  Pedee,  when  and  why  made,  45,  47 
,,       tract  assigned  tliem,  47,  48  ;  its  extension,  48-51 
,,       settlement  on  Cat  Fish,  51 
,,       Neck,  its  locality,  why  selected,  51 
,,       account  of  colony  in  Welcli  Neck,  52,  53 
„       organization  of  first  cl.urch,  53 
,,       records  of  church,  53  7iote  ;  many  lost,  440 
„       appeal  to  Council  for  protection  a<;ainst   Indians,  53 
,,       inducements  held  out  by  Government  to  others  to  come,  54,  55 
„       increase  of  settlers,  list  of  grants,  action  of  Council  thereon,  55-58 
,,       diflBculties  in  their  way,  58 

,,       petition  to  have  lands  surveyed  and  granted  free  of  expense,  59 
„       action  of  Council  on  petition,  60 
,,       upper  limits  of  their  settlement,  62 
,,       exclusive  in  their  feeling  and  policy,  61,  66 
„       relics,  67,  and  note ;  a  few  names  only  left,  162 
„       their  first  articles  of  cultivation,  1 1 1 

„       encouraged  by  Government  to  produce  certain  exports,  60 
,,       removal  of  their  church  building  to  Society  Hdl,  440 
Wemys,  Major,  his  march  up  Pedee.  incidents  of,  502,  303,  304 
,,       returns  to  George-town,  306 
,,       indulgence  shown  him  by  General  Sumpter,  306 
,,       again  on  Lower  Pedee,  332 
Westfield,  John,  notice  of,  62  note 

,,  Tobacco  Inspector  at  Cheraw,  430 

Whigs  and  Tories,  when  the  distinction  between  them  took  its  rise,  266,   267 
,,  ,,  conflicts  between,  257,  298,  305,325,  326 

„    .         ,,  357.  358,  370,  371.  '382,  383,  387,  392 

Whitfield,  William,  Representative  for  Man  borough,  459 
Wickham,  Thomas,  Representative  for  Liberty,  457 
Wilds,  notice  of  famil}',  52  note 

,,       Samuel,  petitions  for  land,  118 
,,       Mrs.,  robbed  by  British  soldiers,  362 
,,       Samuel,  birth  and  early  years,  499-500 
,,  ,,        teacher  in  St.  David's  Academy,  437,  521 

,,  ,,        candidate  for  Legislature  in  Darlington,  458,  459 

,,  ,,        Representative  for  Darlington,  461,  501 

,,  ,,        marriage,  success  at  Bar,  500,  501 

,,  ,,        anecdote  of,  501,  note 

„  ,,        elected  solicitor,  then  judge,  501 

,,  „        charge  to  Grand  Jury  of  Abbeville,  502-509 

,,  „        sentence  on  Slater,  510,  and  «o?e,  513 

„  „  ,,  John  ToUison,  513-516 

,,  ,,        holds  last  court  in  Charleston,  517 

,,  „        his  death,  and  feeling  produced  by  it,  517 

„  ,,        proceedings  of  Bar  in  Charleston,  517,  518 

,,  ,,  ,,  ,,  at  Sumpter,  518, 519 

,,  ,,       obituary  notices  of,  519-526,  and  »io<e 

,,  ,,       lines  commemorative  of,  527,  528 

Wilks,  John,  grantee  of  land,  79 

Williams,  Rev.  Kobei  t,  notice  of,  and  account  of  family,  64,  65,  and  note 
„  David,  his  death,  268 

„         General  D.  R.,  notice  of,  65,  note 

N   N 


546  INDEX. 

Willis,  Old,  kills  British  soldiers,  and  returns  money  to  Mrs.  Wilds,  363,  364 
Wilson,  Dr.  James  P.,  notice  of,  and  family,  102 

house  burned  by  British,  removes  his  family,  304 
effort  to  save  Cusack,  303 
C.C.  Justice  for  Darlington,  434 
opposes  Wm.  Thomas  for  senate,  446 
his  death,  453,  454,  and  note 
John,  settles  on  Pedee,  his  family,  103,  andwo^e 
,,         „       feeling  after  taking  oath  of  allegiance,  305 
,,         „        commands  Munchausen  corps,  352 
,,         „        Sheriff  for  Cheraws,  378 
,,         „        taken  prisoner  and  escapes,  386 
Wise,  Samuel,  settles  on  Pedee,  104 

,,         „         elected  captain  by  Provincial  Congress,  ■236 

,,         ,,  elected  major,  236 

,,  „  resigns  commission,  246,  247 

,,  „         marches  to  Charles-town,  252 

,,         „         writes  to  Gen.  Harrington,   268-273,    278,   279,  285-287,  289- 

291 
,,  „         his  character  and  death,  296 

Winchester,  Kev.  Elhanan,  pastor  of  Welch  Neck  church,  180  note 

„  „  preaches  anniversary  sermon  in  St.  David's  church, 

180 
,,  ,,  addresses,  with  Rev.  Mr.  Hart,  President  Laurens, 

and  President's  reply,  261-263 
,,  ,,  resigns  his  charge,  439  ;  state  of  church,  439,  440 

Witherspoon,  John  D.,  active  at  fire  in  Darlington,  435,  note 
,,  Gavin,  settles  in  Darlington,  notice  of,  441 

,,  ,,       Representative  for  West  Liberty,  455 

Wood,  Rev.  Frame,  teacher  in  St.  David's,  438 

Yankee  Hill,  465  note 

Young,  Francis,  account  of,  petitions  for  land,  61 

ZiMMEKMAN,  Wm.,  Representative  for  Darlington,  459,  461 
„  „      Sheriff  for  Darlington,  46 1 . 


THE    END. 


